Josh Cribbs loves the passion of Cleveland Browns fans. And really, what's not to love?
View full sizeJosh Cribbs hauls in a pass during minicamp earlier this summer. Cleveland, Ohio -- Browns receiver-returner-quarterback-chief cook-bottlewasher-savior Josh Cribbs spent a little time with nfl.com doing a live chat. His answers to questions ranging from favorite player as a kid ("Art Monk, Doug Williams, Deion Sanders") to whether he's caught a pass yet from Colt McCoy ("Yep, he has great accuracy") proved as interesting as they were illuminating.
But the favorite, at least for Starting Blocks, was in answer to a query from Joe in Petaluma:
"Can you give an example of how passionate Browns fans are?"
Cribbs: "If we played on an island in Antarctica, Browns fans would take paddle boats and canoes to pack our stadium."
When you're right, you're right.
Oh, yeah?Steelersgab.com is a website devoted -- duh! -- to the Steelers. Today's entry on "Scouting the Enemy," by writer Matt Loede, has a couple of surprises. The first is that it is coherent. The second is that it's not written in crayon. Who knew?
But some things don't change, including the rivalry between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
They are still the Browns, and usually find ways to beat themselves. (Quarterback Jake) Delhomme hasn't played well since the playoff game two seasons ago against the Cardinals, and they have a lack of pass catchers at the WR spot. They give up a lot of yards on the ground, and teams tend to dominate them in time of possession. They are undersized at the LB spot, and can be beat on by teams with bigger O-lines. They are somewhat young in the safety spot with T.J. Ward and Abe Elam penciled in as starters.
... The teams will do their usual twice a year thing, the first meeting being on October 17th in Pittsburgh, in what could be the first game back for Ben Roethlisberger. Meeting two will be in Cleveland on Jan. 2, the last game of the regular season. The Steelers dominated the Browns in game one last year, but were frozen in sub-zero temps in game two in losing to Cleveland Dec. 10. They are too good to lose to Cleveland – ever.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Orange persuasion, Starting Blocks believes the gauntlet has just been tossed down.
From The Plain DealerBrowns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot writes that a plea agreement means nose tackle Shaun Rogers won't be going to jail after being caught with a loaded handgun in his carry-on luggage at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport last April.
Rogers will undergo a diversion program and complete 40 hours of community service, whereupon the charges will be dismissed. No word yet on what, if any, action the league will take, based on its personal conduct policy.
Beat writer Tony Grossi checked in with former Browns receiver Reggie Langhorne, who is home recovering from severe injuries he suffered when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle through an intersection in Westlake. The driver wasn't charged because Westlake ordinances require cyclists to dismount and walk through intersections.