Cleveland Rocks?

Which AFC team will take a significant step backward? San Diego Which NFC team will take a significant step backward? Carolina Which AFC team will take a significant step forward? Cincy Which NFC team will take a significant step forward? Arizona Offensive POY: Aaron Rodgers Defensive POY: JJ Watt Offensive ROY: Sammy Watkins Defensive ROY: CJ Mosely Division Winners: AFC East: Buffalo AFC North: Cincy AFC South: Indianapolis AFC West: Denver NFC East: Dallas NFC North: Green Bay NFC South: New Orleans NFC West: Arizona Superbowl matchup:Denver vs. New Orleans Superbowl winner: Denver

Haha. As a Browns fan, I agree. But your expectations change with success.

*sigh*

Very sorry to hear this - Kiko is a rising star in this league. But have faith, Bills fans. As some of you know, my cousin works in SD's FO. Last year was his first year there and something similar happened with OLB Melvin Ingram. It was his 2nd year after a very promising rookie season, and he tore his ACL in OTAs. It was a crushing blow at the time, but they were able to make the playoffs after years of not having been there. They had also lost their #1 WR, Malcolm Floyd, in TC for the season and rookie Keenan Allen stepped up. The games typically don't swing on a OLB. Someone will step up in Kiko's place and the good thing is he did it now when the coaching staff will be able to have all of TC to prepare. Had this happened in preseason it would be much more impactful in terms of being ready to play without him. Don't forget there will be guys cut during TC who are always surprising, the Bills can pick up a good player still if needed. I like their depth though, a lot.

Yeah, it is embarrassing regardless of what the owner's issues are. The reason is because this team has been through 20 starting QBs since 1999 when we started over. We have never had a real franchise QB that entire time. We have tried and failed, over and over again, 1st round pick after 1st round pick. We have tried the late round QB. We have tried the FA QB. We have tried the hometown hero. It is a ridiculopus exercise in futility and feels like it will NEVER ever happen. So THIS GUY is the next one we have to deal with? A 5'11 kid who played 2 years of college football, has never been able to stand in the pocket, and drinks to deal with his celebrity according to his own dad? His own father sold him out. You say he brushes off his issues and balls out, but this was the article almost one full year ago once he was back on the field:http://espn.go.com/c...n-unselfishness The same exact headline is still flying around today, just with different content. He isn't just any other 20 something millionaire. He is supposed to be the face of the franchise. yet he acts like a spoiled brat when anyone has the nerve to ask about his lifestyle - when every other 20 something millionaire in the NFL seems to be able to handle things just fine. This one couldn't even be bothered to go to class at A&M because he was tired of being BMOC. He wants it both ways - he wants to splash his lifestyle all over social media, but then gets pissed when everyone pays attention. Of course the fans will embrace a winner. But you mention a string of Hall of Famers. Manziel has yet to throw a pass in the NFL. He has talent, but has yet to show he can play in the pros. That is why he gets more criticism and I would have expected him to lay a bit lower until he shows he can do that because he is painting himself into a corner should he struggle as 99% of rookie QBs do. I love the Browns and just want them to finally field a competitive team. It all starts with him, and it makes me very nervous.

Sammy didn't say that in the article. Did he say that on Twitter or something?

I hope he is as good as you say but there is a reason he is here now, while the 49ers are trying to win a SB. He gets a ridiculous amount of penalties. Whitner was so abysmal in pass coverage the two seasons prior to last, it makes me wonder if last season was just a fluke. We shall see.

I don't understand this viewpoint. He is absolutely accountable for his own behavior. He didn't invent the QB position. Other young QBs managed to stay out of this position because they weren't too full of themselves to understand that cameras are everywhere , the media is waiting for famous athletes to screw up. and they all need to be cognizant of that. He refuses to change because why? He feels entitled. He rolls around here with his Bro-hios who enable him and egg him on because they want a piece of his celebrity and he loves it. It is hard enough to come into the NFL and play well as a rookie QB and he has made it even harder on himself with how he handles his affairs because people now are waiting for him to fail and won't give him the benefit of the doubt. I just can't buy that the media is to blame when everyone else seems to get by just fine with it. It may be easier for you because you aren't a Browns fan. I have a feeling from reading this board that if this were EJ Manuel in his rookie year and the late Ralph Wilson told him to tone it down after being drunk all over the place and shouting obscenities on camera and he said he wasn't going to change, you would all be lighting him up like a Christmas Tree. Your QB does everything right. Whether he succeeds on the field he won't ever be looked at as an embarrassment to the franchise. It makes me sick. We have been waiting a long time, and this is what we get.

The Browns let TJ Ward walk as a FA because they didn't want to pay him. According to Ward, the Browns did not even reach out to him to offer a contract. I guess they assumed he would cost too much. They replaced him with Whitner who is from Cleveland and SF didn't want him, so I think he chose to play out his career at home. He is not an upgrade from Ward, IMO, but Ward was also a liability in coverage/much better player against the run. I think Pettine's plan was to have dominant corners which would allow him to not need "elite" Safeties. Whitner is an idiot on Twitter and I see no reason to poke at the Bills when we need to play them and clearly Watkins could have a chip for the Browns essentially passing on him when they needed a WR. Not a good move by Whitner. I have a hard time believing that any OSU DB, past or present, could cover Watkins. Let alone this guy who specializes in the old one shoulder tackle.

You guys think this is too harsh, or nah? Gregg Doyel ‏@GreggDoyelCBS 2h I'd love to see Johnny Manziel succeed in the NFL. But he's preparing to fail. Column - http://cbsprt.co/1prvn3C

Were you the one holding up the interview process? lol I like Pettine's personality but his inexperience as a HC scares me. I also think this interview he did is kind of reminiscent of the Rex Ryan-Eric Mangini thing and we all know how well that turned out.

This was a guy the Browns brought in as well for a pre-draft visit and they seemed high on. I wonder if Pettine was scouting him the whole time and then the Bills nabbed him first.

I think Flowers is going to be a Charger with the right contract structure.

Great news! Does it feel like the beginning of a new era for your team? It definitely does from the outside. Good luck and may the BEST owner win!!!

Ironic that the Browns keep saying they don't want a lot of media coverage and distractions.

Great draft pick, Bills!

I'm trying not to worry but it's just that he seems like a giant douche. Can I say that here?

Yikes! These guys must just get bored when they aren't at practice and now we know everything they do because they have to post it for all to see and judge! Has he said whether it is him?

Hoyer has been in the league a lot longer than EJ. He played fewer games last year, so if you mean he looked better in the two games than EJ did in the 10 games I am not sure. He threw 3 picks against the Vikings. Coming off of a torn ACL, he isn't even a full practice participant yet... and Manziel as a total question mark... I am amazed you would say this. I mean, I have high hopes for Hoyer but also a realist that he really has a tiny sample size.

In Cleveland, we had PSLs for the new stadium in 1999. At first, you needed to buy on in order to buy seasons. They were anywhere from 250-1500 and at that time, people were willing to do it because they were just happy to have the team back. Last year (I think) they removed that restriction and allowed fans to buy seasons without a PSL. They needed to sell more tickets, basically. I don't think it would have been an issue though if the team was better and not completely different year after year. People just didn't know if they wanted to shell out money for the Browns. The PSLs were kind of looked at as a civic duty at the time, like the cost of getting a football team. Cleveland also administered a sin tax on alcohol and cigarrettes in Cuyohoga Cty and then there were the corporate 10-year leases on luxury suites. The problem with the PSLs too is they were sold to the fans as an investment that would grow in value. After 12 losing seasons in the last 14, that is anything but true and now they have eliminated them to try to increase attendance, so a lot of the most loyal fans feel cheated. Browns attendance has gone down each year.

I don't think it would be much of a shock at all if the Bills made the playoffs. They were a really good team last year and I think would have made the playoffs if the top 2 QBs don't get hurt. I think they only got better this year.

I think it is getting hard to laugh these things off. Don't forget that both JM's parents and his TAMU coach Kevin Sumlin recommended him for alcohol counseling last season. The Browns need to say something, either the coaching staff, vets or both. If he didn't have a history of issues it wouldn't be such a story. When Mary Kay Cabot asked him right after he was drafted if he was going to "tone it down" now that he was in the NFL, he said he didn't think he would have much time for that stuff anymore. Well, he obviously does have the time. He hasn't even signed his contract yet with the Browns.