Cleveland Browns: 2009 Super Bowl Or Bust.

TIRED OF THE LOSING AND TIRED OF REBUILDING!

The hangover from the “'99 Back in the League” party has been played out. I am grateful I have a team again. But, I am tired of losing, rebuilding, losing, rebuilding, trading, firing and rebuilding.

It's time for this organization and team to start winning. The organization as a whole needs to take a stand, take stock and draw the proverbial line in the sand. This is a team which has a massive fan base, full of loyal, intelligent football fans who want playoff wins, divisional crowns and league championships.

This is a team which is blessed with continued sell-outs, a new stadium and a rich history of championship football.

Quoted below from Wikipedia:

“A 2006 study conducted by Bizjournal determined that Browns fans are the most loyal fans in the NFL. The study, while not scientific, was largely based on fan loyalty during winning and losing seasons (however, it does not account for the ratio of winning to losing seasons by a team), attendance at games, and challenges confronting fans (such as inclement weather or long-term poor performance of their team). The study noted that Browns fans filled 99.8% of the seats at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the last seven seasons, despite a combined record of 36 wins and 76 losses over that span”

This is an organization which is enjoying all the perks of a Super Bowl winning franchise and giving a sub-par product back to the fan.  That is uncalled for and changes need to be made. Changes more dramatic than a new Head Coach, GM and players.

Over the last 10 seasons, I have seen a disturbing trend. The trend of continually hitting a tipping point.

The “tipping point” is where one side slides to continued losses and managerial carousels and another side towards graduated steps to continued success and playoff wins. What sets this team apart from other such teams is that tipping point is consistently within view and consistently, the team slides into the abyss.

The 2008 season was just such a point. The 2007 season was a season of surprising success, where the youth, draft picks, free agents and veterans, played together and played to win. 2007 was a surprise for the Browns faithful. But, something was still missing.

There was no fire.

No drive to climb those steps and go into the playoffs.  That team should NEVER have lost to Cincinnati. They did because they were willing to accept the level of success they had achieved and since they were not picked to even be 10-6 they accepted it and missed the playoffs.

Any other organization would of played that game with a sense of urgency. The team was content with 10 wins. Why not? It was better than the previous season right? 

This team had no fire, no drive, and no attitude. I want to see a team which plays with urgency. I want mean, bone shattering hits. I want a hulking LB who scares the piss out of an offensive line. I want a Jack Lambert or Dick Butkus or Conrad Dobler. I want them to piss fire and spit nails.

I want to see FIRE. This is not rocket science, were not trying to come up with a new form of energy or world peace. Why can other organizations continually put fourth a winning team on the field season after season. It can be done. We see it all the time.

Unfortunately, the regime of Romeo Crennel was unable to produce the attitude needed to win the AFC North. Crennel was a “players” coach. The players liked and respected him but they were not scared of him. This is exactly what the team needed.  With the recent addition of Eric Mangini as head coach, we may be getting exactly that.

The reports are that Mangini is the complete opposite of Romeo. Mangini is hard and not liked by former players. I say, “Good.” I don’t want a “buck up, we’ll get them next week” coach. How many guys “liked” Bill Parcells or Paul Brown? I can guarantee every single one of their players respected them...

I want a coach who demands perfection. I want a coach that has no problem telling the star he had a crap game. The hiring of Mangini is a start but this team needs more than the current regime is willing to provide.

Unfortunately, we are cursed with having our sworn enemy in the same division.

For 30 years, the Browns and Steelers have had an intense, heated rivalry. However, it is only heated and intense for Browns fans. I can guarantee that Steeler fans do not look on the rivalry the same as the Browns fans. Why? 

First, let's look at the term “Rivalry”. Their can only “truly” be a rivalry when the teams are equal and the outcome is unknown. When it comes to the Browns vs Steelers the outcome is always the same the Steelers will beat the Browns.

I hate to say it but let's face facts. I’ve followed this team and the NFL for 30 years. I like to consider myself a fan of the game. I wont blindly follow my team and make cheap excuses for the losing. It is what it is. The Browns were outplayed, out coached and outclassed in this rivalry.

Being a Browns fan I have an almost genetic predisposition, to dislike anything Steeler related. I cant stand the colors black and yellow, I hate the “Terrible Towel” and that dump of a stadium, which is named after a hotdog condiment. HA!! 

With that being said, I may dislike the Pittsburgh Steelers but I goddamn respect them. They beat the hell out of us. Always. There is no rivalry. We just play them twice a year. Browns fans HATE the Steelers. Why? Because they win!

That’s it folks. You know why they win? Because the Pittsburgh Steelers are 100 percent through and through, built, ran and conditioned to win football games. That’s it. You don’t have the success that this franchise has over such a long period of time and not know what you’re doing.

Chuck Noll molded the franchise, Cowher continued the tradition and now It seems that Tomlin is doing just the same.This is a franchise that has had three Head Coaches since 1969. That is UNBELIEVABLE. For comparative sake, Browns: 14 coaches since 1969.

They have played in 14 AFC Championship games, winning seven. Seven Super Bowl appearances. Winning six. They have been to the playoffs 25 times with 19 Division Championships. They had four starting centers from 1964-2006.22 Players played on all four of their 1970’s Super Bowl teams.

Consistency wins in the NFL. Strong talent, playing with each other and practicing with each other day in, day out, season in season out.

The Steelers have had some bad years, like any organization. The difference being, they build on it and win again. The don’t have coaching carousels and losing on top of losing on top of losing.

They lose, get better and win the division, win the Div, playoffs,win the AFC, Win Super Bowls, win the AFC, win the AFC, win the Division etc, etc, etc...Then have one bad season, maybe two.

Then they win again and win the AFC and win Super Bowls. The Steelers' organization molds and breeds winners. I hate it. I cant stand that they can do it but that’s how they think. They WIN FOOTBALL GAMES.

The Rooney’s do not have a vested interest in a sports franchise 5000 miles away in another country which doesn’t even watch the NFL. The Steelers win because the Rooney's only care about the Steelers.They are fully vested into winning with the Steelers. Thats it.

Too many teams have gone through the “Superbowl to rebuild back to Super Bowl” plan. We are in a constant state of rebuilding and quite frankly I am sick of it.

CHANGE AT OWNERSHIP

Randy Lerner has spent money. He has managed to get free-agents and has made moves. However, spending money is not the key to success. Look at the NY Yankees for that example. The key to a winning franchise is the 100 percent total aim to win the Super Bowl.

That’s what happened in New England. Why cant Cleveland do it? You don’t have other teams. You don’t own soccer teams in Europe or NASCAR teams. This Is what the Browns need to do and it needs to be done right now. 

I want the Cleveland Browns, the entire organization to gear itself to win the AFC. That’s It. Anything else is failure. We gave this team, franchise, coaches, owners, players 10 years to become successful. One wild card in 10 years is failure. So, you have had 10 seasons. I want a Super Bowl. Do what ever needs to be done. Win the AFC.

I am giving Randy Lerner one season.  The 2009 NFL Season.  Either the Cleveland Browns achieve a trip to the AFC Championship game or I will continue to write editorial pieces for the resignation and sale of all controlling Interests by Randy Lerner.

He either sells Aston Villa and dedicates himself to giving back to the Browns fans or sells controlling interest of the Browns to someone who realizes he has the No. 1 Fan Base in the NFL and gives back to us, the fans.

It is apparent that the current ownership base has not been able to produce an organization geared to winning football games. One Playoff appearance in the last 10 seasons? That is uncalled for.

Especially with the ungodly amount of high draft picks allotted and the amount of money made by this team. This team is nothing but a feather in their cap and a place to go on Sundays. They do not care about winning. If they did, we would have playoff appearances.

This team over the years has had too much wasted talent and opportunities to be a consistent loser.

So, here you go Randy. I wish you god speed and lets win the AFC!

Before I get emails or comments saying I am Insane to ask for the AFC Title, ask yourself “Why is that Insane?” Do you know how many top draft picks this team has wasted and burned.

We have money, a new stadium, history why cant I demand my team which makes millions every year, to dedicate it self to achieving something greater than a top-five pick.  Aren’t you tired of the constant rebuilding and regime changes?

San Diego went from worst to first. The Arizona Cardinals won the AFC, the Seahawks have been to the Super Bowl. All those teams were perennial cellar dwellers. Why cant the Browns do it.

I’m tired of waiting for next year.  The organization needs to take stock, and either win and win now or change ownership and bring in smart, dedicated football minds who’s sole thinking is a Super Bowl trophy.