UNLEASHED: Mile-High Crash

bane: " a person or thing that ruins or spoils " 

Browns Backers,

History has a way of recycling itself. Indirectly or not, things come and go, changing and evolving over time. The one thing remains the same is that time marches forward.

When it comes to the Denver Broncos, they have always been the bane of the Browns, a demon that has haunted not only the team but the franchise and the collective psyche of Cleveland itself.

Next to Pittsburgh, no other team has tormented and vexed Browns fans more than Denver, thanks in large part to "The Drive" and "The Fumble," from their epic AFC Championship clashes in the late '80s. 

Even to this day, seeing the haunting images of QB John Elway elude the grasp of Browns defenders is enough to make even the most diehard cringe. The Broncos have always been that one elusive demon from the past. 

Thursday night, it seemed so fitting when the Browns and their newly anointed "savior"—QB Brady Quinn—tried to jumpstart the season, the Broncos would once again foil them and toy with them in a creepy game of déjà vu. 

Other than The Godfather II and The Dark Knight, no sequel lives up to its original, but I think you could consider "The Drive II," which was Cutler's game-winning, Elway-like drive, and "The Fumble II," when Winslow was stripped of the ball during a crucial drive in the fourth quarter in the same (although new) stadium and two hotshot QBs in both Jay Cutler and Brady Quinn, playing the role of Bernie Kosar and John Elway in this remake; it seemed like karma's way of toying with the Browns yet again.

As encouraging as the Browns were looking in Quinn's coming-out party, somehow you just knew that the Browns would find someway to blow it, and that the Broncos would find a way to snatch another victory from the Browns. True to form, it happened again in eerily familiar fashion.      

Sept. 27, 2003, a wide-eyed freshman QB from the Columbus suburb of Dublin, OH would take his first steps in becoming the most prolific QB in the history of Notre Dame, even though he would lose in his first college start to future Bears QB, Kyle Orton, 23-10. This young man would go on to leave his mark at the school that invented the forward pass and had such legendary field generals as Joe Montana and Joe Theismann.

In this game, he left a lasting impression by becoming the eighth freshman to start in South Bend since 1951 by passing for 297 yards that day, he would go on to replace Carlylie Holiday and the rest is history. 

Fast-forward to 2008, under the lights of Cleveland, and getting the chance to play for his childhood team, the Cleveland Browns, he not only aced his first test as a starter by throwing for two touchdowns along with 239 yards, but in my eyes, he showed me why the Browns made him their franchise player. 

Even in defeat, I have to say that I came away very impressed with what I saw in Brady Quinn, and even though it was a short week, he looked liked a composed veteran leading the Browns. For once, the team actually looked competent in the process. 

And to clarify for the record that I have never had anything against him, he showed me something: He has that "it" factor in a QB that cannot be defined or described and watching his total command in the huddle and spreading the ball around, I also noticed that there we no penalties, everyone one lined up in formation, the team seemed to move "faster," and even Braylon caught a ball, my god! 

And when was the last time that we had a QB complete 12 passes in a row? You would have to go back to QB Kelly Holcomb when he completed 13 vs, Arizona in 2003, but what I also noticed that Quinn adds to the Browns is his ability to extend plays with his mobility and ability to make quick decisions. 

Quinn and Jerome Harrison have a real chemistry going on, and they should really use them more together, like Quinn used RB Darius Walker back at Notre Dame. But I do actually like his ability to attack all points of the field. Now, I'm not sure if Chud mothballed the offense or not, but why did they abandon the run and not mix it up some against one of the worst defenses in the league? 

Quinn, in his defense, did everything he could to give the Browns a much needed win, but with the defense playing like the Cleveland Browns' defense and receivers dropping balls or making stupid penalties, Quinn was just as hindered in hanging a W as Anderson, so, in a nutshell, new QB, same result. 

In my opinion, that is why the Browns can't protect a lead by going conservative and playing prevent, which allowed Denver to march downfield at will, and if not for the "Sorenson Miracle" in North Florida, this team would be 2-7. I believe that, if there was one play that epitomized the Browns' season so far, it was the offensive pass interference call that Winslow got flagged for after Quinn made a NICE (and I mean nice!) sideline throw to Edwards, who actually caught ANOTHER pass!

There is no point in even TRYING this defense, because Law and Order's Sam Waterson would consider this a cold case without a trace. 

Do I REALLY need to bring up the 4th-and-1 with 3:38 left in the game and the Browns HAD the Broncos' RB initially stopped only to let him fall forward, or should I mention the 93-yard bomb that Cutler dropped on Brandon McDonald—I heard Champ Bailey wants his "LOCKDOWN" skull cap back! 

Did I forget to mention the Brandon Marshall TD reception that THREE Browns whiffed on him as he pranced into the end zone or that QB Jay Cutler passed for 207 yards AND had a QB rating of 135.1, that's 21 points for those of you keeping track at home!

It is official, LB Andre Davis is the worst LB in the NFL, followed closely by DE/LB Kam Wimbley, because the way they tackle is like watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show, they really need to give a serious look at LB's Beau Bell and Alex Hall, because from what I've seen in Davis and Wimbley, watching dolphins mate is more fun!  

It should be interesting to see what happens in Quinn's first road start in Buffalo on MNF, but if his first start was any indication, and this defense can actually learn how to play actual defense and TACKLE, or get a collective vasectomy, whichever is easier, then I have to say that this season won't be a total loss and we will finally get to see a taste of the future with Brady Quinn leading of the Cleveland Browns. 

Barking Loud and Proud!

Dawgfather