Landscape of the AFC North

[Soda]

I really think that Weeden is getting judged extremely critically and I think it is bizzare how people are writing him off already. He didn't even have a terrible season last year. I mean, he had growing pains and all, but some of you are just regularly glass-half-empty. Keep it to yourselves sometimes.

We want to discuss how the team can improve, not just hear that they haven't been good.

 

[Chris]

Has anyone even mentioned Weeden in here?

Besides, forums would be so much cooler without dissenting opinions and everybody just being a cheer leader for the teams. Right?

 

[bob2the2nd]

so i live in baltimore, and this picture has been cycling through my friends facebook statuses

 

[Soda]

Has anyone even mentioned Weeden in here?

Besides, forums would be so much cooler without dissenting opinions and everybody just being a cheer leader for the teams. Right?

I'll bite. Thanks for adding, by the way.

There is a conversation about the future of the Browns and some people, and I didn't even mention you, just play the skeet-shooter role. It doesn't add to the conversation because it is different than having dissenting opinions; it is just poking in to piss on the fire.

Basically, for example, this thread was created by MoFlo to discuss the landscape of the AFC North moving forward. We're well aware of what the Browns did and didn't do last season, Chris. The turnover of the front office that you happened to mention is happening division-wide on the ROSTERS as well. Ergo, it is a reasonable expectation that the Browns (and Bengals) could make strides in the AFC North because, as MoFlo mentioned in the first post, the Steelers and Ravens are losing valuable pieces while the Browns add valuable pieces.

What difference can be made next year with this kind of movement? Well, we're not sure. What we do know is that there is a ton of turnover in AFC North rosters, which doesn't happen very often at all. I mean, James Harrison, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are about to be out of the division forever. This isn't a mundane off-season by any account. So yes, you can keep pointing a finger at last year's record without going further, but it really doesn't add much here.

 

[Chris]

I'll bite. Thanks for adding, by the way.

There is a conversation about the future of the Browns and some people, and I didn't even mention you, just play the skeet-shooter role. It doesn't add to the conversation because it is different than having dissenting opinions; it is just poking in to piss on the fire.

Basically, for example, this thread was created by MoFlo to discuss the landscape of the AFC North moving forward. We're well aware of what the Browns did and didn't do last season, Chris. The turnover of the front office that you happened to mention is happening division-wide on the ROSTERS as well. Ergo, it is a reasonable expectation that the Browns (and Bengals) could make strides in the AFC North because, as MoFlo mentioned in the first post, the Steelers and Ravens are losing valuable pieces while the Browns add valuable pieces.

What difference can be made next year with this kind of movement? Well, we're not sure. What we do know is that there is a ton of turnover in AFC North rosters, which doesn't happen very often at all. I mean, James Harrison, Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are about to be out of the division forever. This isn't a mundane off-season by any account. So yes, you can keep pointing a finger at last year's record without going further, but it really doesn't add much here.

I didn't come in here to point out how the Browns did last year. I came in and saw statements about the future of the division being Browns vs Bengals. I was baffled. Usually, those are statements people make after said team [Browns in this case] is coming off a season of promise. But they are coming off 3+ straight 5 or less win seasons, and just turned their FO over for the ... what is it .... fourth time? Fifth time? In a dozen years. I've lost track.

I know it's a Browns forum and thus everyone is usually buying into the company line and thinking playoffs are right around the corner. Personally, and let's talk landscape of the AFC North here...the Bengals are frauds. I know they play like a decent squad but I just cannot take them seriously as a playoff threat or Superbowl team. I think I have a mental block against it or something. Still, I do think they are further along than Cleveland. The Ravens just won the goddam Superbowl. I don't care who they are losing. Haven't we learned enough at this point to give these teams the benefit of the doubt? Their FOs are superstar quality, they make the right decisions (as MoFlo noted) all the time, they have turnover in personnel and still find a way to put a high quality product on the field. The Steelers and Ravens, until somebody starts beating them (ie, hopefully, us) on a regular basis or at least contending for this division, I can't buy into statements like, "The future of this division is Bengals vs Browns, Steelers and Ravens are falling off!" as much as I hope they are true.

I don't think my stance is somehow outrageous, ridiculous, or obscene in any way. I'd guarantee it's shared by most people outside of Cleveland message boards, really. Steelers and Ravens are the class of the AFC North until proven otherwise.

 

[Soda]

The Steelers and Ravens, until somebody starts beating them (ie, hopefully, us) on a regular basis or at least contending for this division, I can't buy into statements like, "The future of this division is Bengals vs Browns, Steelers and Ravens are falling off!" as much as I hope they are true.

The bolded statement is definitely far, far too premature. I would agree with that. Also, yes, wins against the Steelers and Ravens will be the ultimate barometer of the Browns' improvement. Still, can't we say that by taking a rivals' top playoff performer (except Flacco) and getting some other guys signed looks like the Browns have a decent shot to get out of the basement of the AFC North? I think so.

 

[DJTJ]

The bolded statement is definitely far, far too premature. I would agree with that. Also, yes, wins against the Steelers and Ravens will be the ultimate barometer of the Browns' improvement. Still, can't we say that by taking a rivals' top playoff performer (except Flacco) and getting some other guys signed looks like the Browns have a decent shot to get out of the basement of the AFC North? I think so.

After being competitive in every division game? Yeah, it's more than a decent shot. Don't understand why there isn't a good reason to believe that we can compete in the division.

 

[Selby]

After being competitive in every division game? Yeah, it's more than a decent shot. Don't understand why there isn't a good reason to believe that we can compete in the division.

Because we are the Cleveland Browns.

 

[Triplethreat]

Because we are the Cleveland Browns.

And until everyone quits with this stereotype and stops being hung up on past events, we will probably never get there.

Even though we see the signs there, the fan base just leaves a giant cloud of negativity over the city.

 

[Soda]

Because we are the Cleveland Browns.

Doesn't stop you from rooting for South Carolina. :chuckles:

I kid, I kid.

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

And until everyone quits with this stereotype and stops being hung up on past events, we will probably never get there.

Even though we see the signs there, the fan base just leaves a giant cloud of negativity over the city.

Stereotypes by fans have absolutely nothing with our ability to "get there."

 

[Soda]

Stereotypes by fans have absolutely nothing with our ability to "get there."

No, not really. I would argue, however, that booing everything the second things turn a little sour does.

You act as if players aren't affected by the fans because they shouldn't be. Well, I'm here to tell you that football players are, too, humans. When they hear people bitching and moaning about every little mishap, that can and does effect the mentality of the human player.

 

[Triplethreat]

Stereotypes by fans have absolutely nothing with our ability to "get there."

Sure doesn't help.

 

[Selby]

And until everyone quits with this stereotype and stops being hung up on past events, we will probably never get there.

Even though we see the signs there, the fan base just leaves a giant cloud of negativity over the city.

We "see the signs there" every goddamned off-season. When are we going to win games?

I'm not trying to be negative. I could see the Browns not being complete and utter trash this season. To me, that means like 7 wins at most. Not a laughing stock. But 7 wins isn't going to win the division, and losing a handful of solid starters isn't going to turn the Ravens into the basement of the AFC North.

 

[Triplethreat]

We "see the signs there" every goddamned off-season. When are we going to win games?

I'm not trying to be negative. I could see the Browns not being complete and utter trash this season. To me, that means like 7 wins at most. Not a laughing stock. But 7 wins isn't going to win the division, and losing a handful of solid starters isn't going to turn the Ravens into the basement of the AFC North.

We would have been 8-8 last year if it's not for Pat Shurmer.