Don't Hit Panic Switch Yet: Still Hope for Cleveland Browns

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

So maybe the brown pants the Browns were sporting Saturday night were less of a fashion statement and more of a metaphor. Not the metaphor that they were "crapping themselves" (the Packers' new 3-4 defense isn't that scary), but more like a team that's "crapping out."

Let's start out by being perfectly honest. This game was more of the same and can be pretty much viewed as "business as usual" for the Browns. There were no touchdowns in the preaseason game against the Packers, extending our touchdown-less streak. Heck, we didn't even get any points. And a Shaun Rogers-less defense yielded no results.

But stay with me, avoid hitting that panic switch yet Browns fans (hard as it may be).

This was only the first game of the preseason. The first game for Eric Mangini as head coach of the Browns. Browns players were yet to be coached by Mangini in game time until this past Saturday night. So for a lot of our players, they're still playing Romeo Crennel football. Just playing lax and not really getting called out for it.

And now this is where Mangini needs to make it clear: The Browns aren't going to lose. That he doesn't care if it's preseason, a game is a game. He has to instill that attitude in the Browns. Heck, it's his job to do it.

Because as soon as it's okay to let a preseason game go, then the whole preseason is lost. I mean, it is only preseason right?

And when that happens and carries over into the regular season, it's okay. It's only the first game. There are still 15 games left on the calendar, they can win those. And when that's okay, so will be losing every week. But that's okay, there is always next season.

Except there isn't always next season. Romeo Crennel was fired for his non-production and his lax attitude. And Mangini will be fired if he lets this go. And you know what? I think Mangini can get aggressive. I think he can do it.

I think Mangini can and will yell at his players. Maybe he can get them to realize they're paid professional football players and not paid tank jobs. The Browns need football players and a head coach.

Not players who will play every game like it's the preseason or a coach who will bring more of the same. He knows it as well as every Browns fan who saw that game: We accomplished nothing and that game left a sour taste in our mouths.

Our next game is against the Detroit Lions. They are a team that is hungry. They've got something to prove and they have the tools to prove it. They did beat the Falcons in a game ending field goal. The Falcons are a playoff caliber team and they lost to the Lions. What do you think the Lions will do to us?

They won a game and it doesn't even count. You think the Lions are satisfied with that? No chance. Jim Schwartz is smart enough to use that as motivation. That they still haven't won anything and they won't until it's the playoffs and they're vying for a spot in the Super Bowl (however unlikely that really is).

The Browns need to get inspired quick. They need something to inspire them the way an 0-16 season has motivated the Lions. Because the simple fact that it's their job to win games clearly isn't enough. The fact they get paid to win, not to lose, is not enough. It's time for Mangini to step up and show that he is a head coach and he will lead this team.

So can Mangini inspire his players the way an 0-16 season has inspired the Lions? I hope so.

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