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January 2, 2011
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 02: Defenders Larry Foote #50, Lawrence Timmons #94 and James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackle tailback Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you're a Browns fan, you have to be so sick of seasons that end like this -- a nearly empty Browns Stadium where nearly the only people left are wearing black and gold and waving Steelers terrible towels.
These type of seasons end with another Browns coach staring at the field, his jaw dragging on the ground, his face looking like a man who just discovered his best friend no longer takes his call -- and knowing his time as head coach is ticking down to its final hours.
These seasons end with another horrible record. This time, it's 5-11 after the Steelers 41-9 spanking of the Browns. This game was so disturbing, the Steelers were treating the Browns like a junior varsity team -- helping up the guys in orange helmets after they were tackled.
It was so bad, that even those who favor the return of Eric Mangini has head coach -- like me -- find themselves depressed and discouraged.
The case for Mangini included playing close games -- this thing was over early in the second quarter. It included a defense that was the only NFL unit not to allow 30 points this season -- the Steelers had 31 at halftime.
It included the fact that the Browns finished last season with a 4-game winning streak to save Mangini's job. This season, it's a 4-game losing streak, which will lead to a coaching change.
It included the assertion that the players respected and hustled for the coaches -- but not on this day. They were like a bunch of students refusing to even crack open a book because spring break begins tomorrow. Their message was clear -- they had little concern for the future of the coach.
There was so much wrong about this game -- aside from the Browns' lack of effort.
Why was Colt McCoy in the game during the second half? The Browns were behind, 31-3, at the intermission. McCoy was taking a frightening physical beating and there was absolutely nothing for the rookie to learn -- other than how to avoid decapitation from a blitzing linebacker.
Why did the Browns kick a field goal early in the second quarter when they were behind 14-0? If my job is on the line and I finally get the ball to the Pittsburgh 2, I am not kicking a field goal.
I know Robert Royal dropped not one, but two potential touchdown passes. I still go for the score. McCoy can throw off the run. His rollouts did create time to find an open receiver. Just take Royal out and throw the ball to someone else.
But the Browns kicked the field goal.
There's no more reason to dissect this game, because the real story is what comes next.
Be it team president Mike Holmgren or someone else, the new coach will be the sixth in 13 years since the franchise returned. For the fans, it's the same awful story, over and over, since the Browns' return in 1999. The Romeo Crennel era ended with a six-game losing streak and 31-0 whipping at Pittsburgh in 2008. Chris Palmer's final game was a 24-0 defeat to Tennessee in 2000, along with a five-game losing streak.
Butch Davis' days ended with what he called "a panic attack," as he watched the Browns lose, 58-48, to the Bengals -- and then he quit with five games left in the season -- and was paid for that season, plus three more years.
Too bad the season ticket holders didn't have the same option.
What makes this seem worse is the Browns started the season at 1-5. They battled back to 5-7 and seemed on their way to at least a 7-9 record. Instead, they fell apart when it meant the most.
Now, the Browns are back to where they usually are at this time of year -- looking forward to the hiring of a new coach while trying sort through the rubble of yet another losing season.
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