---"Change the uniforms. Exclamation point. And word and shit."
That's a seemingly growing cry amongst the younger set of Browns fans, who feel the need to pimp the Browns' ride and Nike-fy the uni's into the 21st century. Like it's some '77 Vega in dire need of spinnin' rims and drop-down DVD players and boomin' systems.
"SCREW TRADITION!" they scream over their I-Pods and Nanos and surround-sound MP3's and laptops Googling YouTube clips of MTV creating the next "musical" sensation.
Change the uniforms? I have but one question:
Why?
So the Browns can look like the Broncos?
Look, not everything thing needs to be updated. Not everything needs a fresh coat of paint, just so the younger generation can look "fly" when sportin' their gear amongst their peers.
Gimme a restored '57 Chevy over a pimped-out '95 'Scort any day of the week. And especially on Sundays.
Gimme the Browns' classic look.
And leave it the hell alone.
---From what I hear, all of this uniform-change talk stems from a Kellen Winslow interview in the latest issue of Penthouse magazine, and hyped by 19 Action News (motto: WE WILL SCREAM LOUD ENOUGH AND LONG ENOUGH TO DISTRACT YOU FROM THE FACT THAT WE MAKE STUFF UP!). I may have to go out and purchase the issue in question. For the article, of course.
---I'm not the biggest Phil Dawson fan in the world; in fact, I would be at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to The One Who Is Above Challengers In Training Camp. However, the NFL announced their weekly awards yesterday, and one thing is quite certain.
Dawson was robbed.
No disrespect meant to T.J. Rushing--the kick returner from Indy who took home the Special Teams honor--but this one should've gone to Dawson. To make those two kicks, in those conditions, is just something that should not have gone unnoticed or without recognition.
The 49-yarder was epic, a masterpiece that will take some time to top. If ever.
For that kick alone, he deserved the honor.
---Smart move by both the Browns and LeCharles Bentley in restructuring the injured center's deal.
It provides protection for the Browns should Bentley fail to come back, and it allows Bentley to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2008 season should he return to full health and perform on the field. Such a move would afford Bentley the opportunity to recoup, on the open market, a portion of the money he lost by ripping up the last three years of his deal.
Kudos to both Phil Savage and Bentley's agent, Jonathan Feinsod, for doing a deal that's fair to both parties.
---In 12 career games against the Bengals, Jamal Lewis has averaged nearly 122 yards a game and scored 10 touchdowns. He's averaged 5.5 yards a carry and, in those 12 games, has nine game in excess of 100 yards, including a 216-yard outburst against the Bengals on Sept. 16.
---If the Browns beat the Bengals this Sunday, not only would it secure at least a wildcard berth, but it would also be the first time since 2002 that they've swept their Queen City rivals. A victory also would give the Browns a winning record vs. the AFC North for the first time since The Return.
---Hey Anthony, Mike Tomlin says guarantee this.
---How cool would it be to see a Cleveland kid beat the Steelers in the last game of season, thus vaulting the Browns onto the AFC North throne?
Troy Smith, the Ohio State product by way of Glenville High, will start his first NFL game this weekend as the Ravens take on the Seahawks. Should he perform well, or starter Kyle Boller is not sufficiently recovered from a concussion, the rookie native Clevelander would get the start in the season finale against the Steelers.
And, once again, all of Northeast Ohio would become huge Troy Smith fans.
---Programming note: 57 days, 21 hours and 10 minutes until the 50th running of The Great American Race.
