Can ‘Em
November 16, 2008 by The Constant Complainer
Welcome to The Constant Complainer – voted “Best Local Blog” in a “Best of Cleveland 2008” readers’ poll.
I don’t complain too often about sports on this blog. Primarily because we have readers from all over the world and someone in Canada, for example, may not care about my local sports team. However, when I’ve personally written posts or published a Guest Post about sports, it’s when it is regarding a big star or an issue that, in general, my readers would find interesting. Today’s post is a good example.
For as long as I’ve been alive, I’ve been fueled by the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. You see, I’m in an interesting situation. I grew up in Pittsburgh, but now I live in Cleveland. In thinking back, I even attended the infamous 51-0 Browns blowout of the Steelers on 9/10/89. That game brought the rivalry to the forefront for years.
Anyway, you may not agree, but here’s where I stand on this situation. I always root for the Steelers and I always root for the Browns. However, when they play each other, I root for the Steelers. That sets up what I’m about to tell you.
Much to my dismay, this rivalry is dying. The Browns are in the midst of one of the worst seasons in recent memory. They are 3-6 and instead of being in the thick of things after their amazing 10-6 season last year, they are barely holding on to 3rd place in the AFC North. Poor decision after poor decision by everyone from management on down will surely leave the Browns as this season’s biggest disappointment.
My whole complaint today is about Romeo Crennel, the Head Coach of the Browns, and why he needs to be fired. The reason that this ties into my history with the Steelers, and why it may be of interest to most sports fans out there, is because if you aren’t already aware of it, there is a huge push in Cleveland to get Bill Cowher, the former Super Bowl winning Head Coach of the Steelers, to coach the Browns next year.
So titling this post “Can ‘Em” was my savvy way of saying “Fire Romeo Crennel” to the world. Many fans have their issues with the Browns and their coaching staff. In my opinion, here are some of the biggest issues with Romeo. First, his play calling is horrendous (it’s third and 8 and he calls for a handoff – or his Offensive Coordinator does and he doesn’t stop him). Second, his time clock management is disastrous (game after game he doesn’t know when to call a timeout). Third, his impromptu decision making leaves a lot to be desired (not knowing when to kick a field goal or go for the touchdown during a potentially game-winning drive). Lastly, he has poor player management (Jamal Lewis and Kellen Winslow openly criticizing the team to the media – Winslow’s suspension is cancelled and Lewis isn’t even disciplined). Those are just a few examples worth mentioning for purposes of this discussion.
A simple Google search for “Fire Romeo Crennell” generated more than 28,000 links. Clearly, it’s on more than a few people’s minds. Also, one of my favorite Browns blogs, Savage Dawgs, has documented many of the ongoing issues with the coaching staff of the Browns. You should check out “What’s wrong with the Browns Part#1” here and “What a JOKE” here.
So why bring in Bill Cowher? First, because he completed his career with the Steelers with a 161-99-1 record, including one Super Bowl win. Second, because he played for and coached with the Browns. Third, and if you didn’t know this, he just moved to Cleveland. Fourth and most importantly, um, because he is the biggest in-your-face-aggressive coach a team like the Browns need. Along those lines, I was pleased to see and am happy to promote a new web site that was launched this week. It is called Cowher09 and is dedicated to bringing a petition to Randy Lerner, the Owner of the Browns, which calls for the termination of Romeo Crennel and the hiring of Bill Cowher. Please check it out here and support their cause.
Hey, I’m a disgruntled Cleveland fan just like anyone else. But can you imagine bringing Bill Cowher to Cleveland? That, my friends, would give me some hope for our future. I don’t know that we’ll ever stop complaining about our team, but it certainly might make things more enjoyable in the meantime…
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I found your site on Google and read a few of your other entires. Nice Stuff. I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
[…] theconstantcomplainer.com added an interesting post on Can ‘EmHere’s a small excerpt However, when I’ve personally written posts or published a Guest Post about sports, it’s… Primarily because we have readers from all over the world and someone in Canada, for example, may not care about my local sports team…. The reason that this ties into my history with the Steelers, and why it may be of interest to most sports fans out there, is because if you aren’t…I don’t complain too often about sports on this blog…. […]
Cleveland has a football team? Get out? Being from Pittsburgh, this rivalry died when the Original Browns went to Baltimore. There is more of a passion for a Ravens-Steelers game then there is a Browns-Steelers game. Let’s face it, Bill Cowher is loved by everyone in Pittsburgh, because not only is he from here, he got the one for the thumb the fans have wanted for so long. As much as I would hate to see him as Head Coach in Cleveland, if you want to relight the fire in the rivalry, this would be the best things the Browns could do. This would upset the Pittsburgh fans enough to really hate the Browns, and they will hate Cowher just as much because by going to the Browns, the fans will feel he betrayed them.
Cowher as a coach, that is a different story. Give him a few good players, and he will not be able to coach them, he will be able to motivate them in to thinking they are good, and get them to think they are good, and that is how he will get them to play their best. That is how he did it here in Pittsburgh.
I have to admit that there is only one thing in this world that I hate, and that is the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hate them even more than Baltimore, a city that stole my team AND won a Superbowl with it. Quite frankly, I’d love for the the entire team to spontaneously combust. There is nothing in this world that would make me happier than to see the fans of the Steelers watch their team packed up into a bus and move to another city while they were left there crying and without a team for 5 years…
But, year after year the Steelers are consistently one of the best teams in the NFL. You’re right, it’s not really a rivalry in the eyes of the Steelers fans becuase the Browns get thumped every time.
I also hate Bill Cower. He’s a traitor and you can tell everytime he stops in at his Strongsville house…something smells real bad in Cuyahoga County. But, it’s all about winning for me. If he can figure out how to win here, I’ll support him…after he coaches the Browns to a victory IN Pittsburgh. Until then, he’s a punk. I don’t care who plays, who’s injured, who coaches, who throws the ball, who runs the ball, or who catches the ball. I just care about winning. It’s been a long time.
NeoConDon,
Since the Browns were able to finish over 500 in 2 of the past 9 seasons, I see where you are coming from about winning, right now they are not doing that, and that sucks for the fans like yourself who just want to see the team win more then the two games against the Steelers during the season.
Keep in mind it could be worse for you Browns fans. You could have to put up with 16 years of losing and be told every two years that management is doing a “new five year plan, and scrapping the previous five year plan” after they trade away the team’s best players for prospects.
As much as I and every other Steelers fan would hate to see Cowher the coach of the Browns, there are some reasons why I don’t think it would happen. Cowher came in as Head Coach of the Steelers with a team that was built by Chuck Noll. Noll’s last season was 7-9, after two seasons of 9-7. Cowher came in and went 11-5. He also posted a 500 record or better for the first six seasons he was a Steelers Head Coach. He came in and coached a team that was getting them selves established; it was a team Chuck Noll was building. Cowher left the Steelers when he wanted to leave them, he was not fired. If Cowher comes in to the Browns’ system, and after 1 season if he does not produce wins, everyone will question why he was able to do it with the Steelers and not the Browns. Cowher has set himself up with a Hall Of Fame coaching career; will he want to tarnish it by trying to coach a team that for the past few seasons have not been doing well? If he fails in Cleveland, and is fired, people may look at his Steelers Coaching career differently. Is that something he will want to have happen, that may hurt his career? Now the flip side is he goes to Cleveland, makes them winners, and retires on his own again, thus showing he can take an established team, and a team in need of improvements and direction, and let that build on his coaching legacy.
You mentioned your opinion of Cowher. Do you think Browns fans see him as a “Savior” to the team, and the best coach that can lead them, or do the fans believe that having Cowher as head coach will tick off Steelers fans more, and that is what they would prefer to do more then having a winning team?
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i just cant see lerner eating crennel and savages contracts, and then paying cowher.
frankly i hate the cavs more and maybe even lerner’s aston villa fc more than the cleve brownies and thats just sad
Cowher Power! I say bring him here.
Well Browns win, so it looks like Romeo gets another week…Houston is coming next, and it could be a very embarassing loss at home. We better hope for some real bad weather…
One thing Steelers fans rely on is that the Browns will screw things up themselves. This talk about Cower coming in and they start winning. If the Browns finish the season strong, and win most of their remaining games, then talk about dumping Crennel will quiet down, because he did a good job and did his job. Thus making firing him rather hard to do. So in this case, the Browns winning the rest of the season may cause them to screw up, and not get Cowher as the head coach, because you can’t justify a firing of Crennel.
Tom G is kind of right. IF the Browns can manage some wins, Romeo might be given another year. I think the most they’ll win the rest of the season is 2 games putting them at 6 and 10. At the beginning of the season, I predicted them to go 9 and 7, so I was WAY off. They play Houston, Indianapolis, at Tennessee, at Philly, Cincy, and at Pittsburgh. I’m not convinced that they can beat Houston…I still think Cowher should hang out in Pittsburgh…just in case the city does in fact spontaneously combust. Plus he’s a traitor and he smells real bad.
How funny that I should come across this article TODAY. I just found out this morning that Aris Brown who is in my sons class happens to be the son of Jim Brown formerly of the Cleveland Browns. This has nothing to do with anything, I just thought it was a little odd I found that out this morning and then just read this article. I think Jim Brown had such an impressive career and I admire what he does now.
Back on topic I agree with the writer. I think we really need to ask ourselves “What’s right for the team?” and proceed accordingly.
I think that it is very important to state for the record that Jim Brown is a traitor to Cleveland as well…
Romeo Crenel is the MAN! What is up with letting an admitted Pittsburger Punker tell Cleveland fans that they need a new coach? I am starting the Save Romeo Campaign. If you would like to join go to http://www.SaveRomeo.com Please let me know how it goes.
Cleveland fans need to realize that the sun in the NFL doesn’t rise and set over Cleveland. Well, maybe the latter, but never the former. Maybe, if you guys would just chill out and let the guy do his job, without being second guessed at every step along the way, he would make better moves. Maybe it’s Braylon’s fault. Why not fire Braylon for dropping so many passes. Maybe it’s the defenses fault for playing like blind squirrels. Maybe it’s the fact that no coach would be good enough to coach in Cleveland…not while the team already has a million plus armchair quarterback coaches! Get a life and stop trying to second guess a football man who has forgotten more football than most of you fairweather fans have ever known!
Romeo is not capable of winning. He will be gone next year along with Phil Savage. Good riddance.
Just to be clear NeoConDon I don’t know anything about Jim Brown or the Cleveland’s other than he played on the team and he is the father to a boy in my sons second grade class. With that said, why in your opinion is Jim Brown a traitor to Cleveland?
Jim Brown remained a supporter of Art Model after he move the Brown’s to Baltimore. He also assisted with him with personnel issues. TRAITOR.
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