The Berea Chronicles

February 2008 - Posts

• Cross Bears Off DA List

  For those hoping the Chicago Bears would be one of the teams bidding for the services of Derek Anderson this off-season, you can all but forget about it. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that the Bears and quarterback Rex Grossman are on the verge of reaching an agreement on a new contract, a deal which could be consummated as early as today.  According to the paper, the two sides are discussing a one- or two-year deal heavy on incentives. Such a move would leave the Bears with three starters who have fairly extensive starting experience in the NFL--Grossman, Kyle Orton and Brian Griese.  It will also leave no room at the Chicago free-agent inn for Anderson. In all honesty, though, the Bears had all but ruled pursuing Anderson over a month ago, after a series of free-agent meetings led to the conclusion Anderson was not the answer at the position. (Editor's Note: and Grossman is???  What the hell does that say about Anderson, then?) Of course, if you had an Insider subscription, you'd already have known that, no wouldn't you? Posted Feb 23 2008, 12:28 PM by johntaylor with no comments

• 'OVER-RATED!'

  At least that's what ESPN thinks when it comes to Browns starting (?) quarterback Derek Anderson. In an article titled "QB Anderson didn't deserve Pro Bowl" that you won't be able to read unless you're an Insider--don't you hate it when a website charges for content?--writer KC Joyner lists the free-agent-to-be as one of the eight most overrated players in the NFL. Joyner notes that Anderson's QB rating of 82.5 was below Sage Rosenfels, among others, and that the club's ten wins shouldn't have resulted in a Pro Bowl trip for the QB.  And he added something about the players metrics not measuring up to their reputations. Ouch. I don't know that Anderson is one of the most overrated players in the league, but I do believe that Brady Quinn's seat-warmer's value is a little overrated by a vast majority of fans and media types in this town. As an aside and apropos of noting, I noticed a picture of Joyner in the article and found out he's a white guy.  For whatever reason, I didn't think that was the case.  Not that there's anything wrong with that. Posted Feb 13 2008, 05:18 PM by johntaylor with 4 comment(s)

• Browns #1 FA Target Off The Market... Almost

  While he's yet to be officially slapped with the franchise-tag designation, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is a matter of days away from being designated as such. According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens will tag Suggs if a long-term agreement cannot be reached before the the February 21 deadline for application of the franchise designation. ""We will be using the franchise tag on Terrell if we don't have a long-term deal in place between now and then," Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome told The Sun. The OBR has heard rumblings that Suggs would've been the top priority of the Browns this off-season, but most within the organization--including one person who remains in close contact to his former club--were resigned to the fact they would not get the chance to bid on the talented LB. Posted Feb 11 2008, 04:07 PM by johntaylor with 4 comment(s)

• When Did A Meaningless Game Become So Meaningful?

  "...and every time I drive down the road I wanna jerk the wheel into a goddamn bridge abutment!" - Chris Farley, in "Tommy Boy". Thus sums up perfectly my feelings regarding the Pro Bowl in general and Derek Anderson's performance and how it "affected his value" in said game specifically. It was a practice game, man.  A practice game.  We're talkin' about a practice game, man. Nothing more, nothing less. The only thing that DA's play in yesterday's meaningless game meant was more ammunition for the anti-DA crowd.  Very much, ironically, like the plaudits for his play in meaningless practice sessions leading up to the meaningless game provided ammo for the pro-DA crowd. For people without an agenda or an angle, the Pro Bowl meant and means nothing. To teams looking for a quarterback and possibly considering a run at the current Browns starter, what he did yesterday meant as much as what I did during the game yesterday. (Oddly enough, it looked like DA did the exact same thing I did during the game: drank heavily.) Clubs have 18 games worth of film to determine DA's value.  To use an exhibition game as a data point on a value chart makes one either very short-sighted, agenda-laden or a member of the Bengals' paper-thin scouting department.  Or all three. This morning, I spoke with an NFL front office-type regarding a matter completely unrelated to Anderson.  Toward the end of the conversation, I felt obligated to ask him the question that nearly every Browns fan has on his mind right now. "What kind of an effect would DA's performance in Honolulu have on his contract situation?" He laughed.  Quite heartily, in fact. As I do at people who use yesterday's game to say one way or the other what his value should be or what the Browns should do with him. Now where's that bridge abutment... Posted Feb 11 2008, 11:16 AM by johntaylor with 4 comment(s)

• More Browns Honolulu-Bound

  For the first time since 1994, six members of the Cleveland Browns will represent the organization in Hawaii as quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow were named to the Pro Bowl squad. Anderson will replace Tom Brady, who will be too busy plowing supermodels to bother with an exhibition game, while Winslow will replaced the injured Antonio Gates. Josh Cribbs and Braylon Edwards were voted on to the original team, while Joe Thomas and Ryan Pontbriand were added to the squads later. Winslow becomes the second draft pick of the Butch Davis Era to make the Pro Bowl, joining the long-snapping Pontbriand. Here's the Browns press release regarding the latest Pro Bowl additions: Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow were named to the 2008 AFC Pro Bowl roster, the league announced today.  Anderson replaces New England quarterback Tom Brady and Winslow replaces San Diego tight end Antonio Gates.  “We're excited the Browns will have such a presence at the Pro Bowl this year,” said Browns Senior Vice President and General Manager, Phil Savage.  “Kellen (Winslow) has overcome so much in the past two years and is a real catalyst for our team. Derek (Anderson) became the starter under difficult conditions after week one and led us to ten wins and a 7-0 home record. Both will grow from this experience in Hawaii.” Anderson was 10-5 as a starter and completed 298-of-527 passing for 3,787 yards with 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions for a 82.5 quarterback rating.  Anderson finished the season tied for second in franchise history with 29 passing touchdowns, fifth in attempts (527), fifth in passing yards (3,787) and sixth in completions (298). Winslow led the Browns with 82 receptions and ranked second on the club with 1,106 yards receiving and five touchdowns.  Winslow’s 1,106 yards receiving are the most by a Browns tight end in franchise history and third overall in franchise annals. Anderson and Winslow join Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, long snapper Ryan Pontbriand and left tackle Joe Thomas as the first Browns players selected to the Pro Bowl since LB Jamir Miller was named during the 2001 season (2002 Pro Bowl). The last time the Browns had six players named to the Pro Bowl was following the 1994 season when six Browns players went to Hawaii. The last Browns quarterback named to the Pro Bowl was Bernie Kosar in the 1987 season (1988 Pro Bowl) and the last Browns tight end named to the Pro Bowl was Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome in the 1985 season (1986 Pro Bowl). Posted Feb 04 2008, 01:02 PM by johntaylor with 1 comment(s)

• Cyndi Lauper Summarizes The Super Bowl

  An ode to Bill Belichick... But I see your true colors shining through I see your true colors... And I'll see your true colors shining through I see your true colors... It takes an arrogant, true football coaching piece of feces to leave his team with time still left on the clock.  To head down the tunnel as your team watches a perfect season go down the shitter.  To let your players wallow in the on-the-field bitterness of a dream season in ruins, without their Emperor to fall on the very same sword. To do... just... to do that. Jeysus Kreest, at least Nero had the common decency to stay around and play the fiddle while his empire burned all around him. Doesn't matter if it was one second left with no hope, or two seconds left in 2004 when Randy Moss walked off the field with nary a glimmer of victory in sight. I just hope the same vitriol that was spewed at Moss will come back on Mumbles.  In spades. Belichick's legacy isn't three Lombardi's, or Spygate I, or whatever comes out of Spygate The Sequel.  No, rather, it's a small, narrow-minded, shallow, callous, mean-spirited little man walking off the field with time still left on the clock. "Tarnished" THAT is the legacy of the modern-day Napoleon. Posted Feb 03 2008, 11:19 PM by johntaylor with no comments