Things are not what they should be between the Browns and the legendary player who is most identified with them. Also, reports on Alex Mack, the quarterback situation, and more.
Former Cleveland Browns running back great Jim Brown.Cleveland, Ohio -- Apparently, the Cleveland Browns are not on the best of terms with the greatest player in team -- if not NFL -- history, Jim Brown.
The WaitingForNextYear blog poses the question, "Should the Browns mend their relationship with Jim Brown?"
The WFNY report begins:
“I’m afraid we’ve seen the last of Jim Brown around here,” reported The Plain Dealer’s Tony Grossi this past weekend.
Grossi reported on Sunday that Brown "does not plan to participate in the club's inaugural Ring of Honor ceremony at the home opener Sept. 19."
On June 5, Grossi wrote about how the Browns' relationship with Brown had become strained.
And now, on Starting Blocks TV, Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto discusses the situation between Brown and the team he played for from 1957-65. And too, a Starting Blocks poll asking if Brown's absence would diminish the Ring of Honor ceremony.
WaitingForNextYear refers to new Browns team president Mike Holmgren's apparent decisions to reduce or eliminate whatever influence Brown and Bernie Kosar had on the Browns in recent years, and comments:
Brown (as well as former quarterback Bernie Kosar) have long had the ear of Randy Lerner. Perhaps this is why Holmgren has opted to make the moves that he did. As beloved as both players are to the city of Cleveland, they may not have been delivering the best advice to a man who appeared to be in over his head from day 1 of taking over the team, leading to the situation which we are in today. Previous regimes appeared willing to let Brown have access to various aspects of the team; Eric Mangini and Mike Holmgren apparently did not agree with such a role. Brown also did not do himself any favors in the court of public opinion when he said the city would be to blame if LeBron James opted to leave for greener pastures.
On the field, the Browns will play in Detroit against the Lions on Saturday night. Keep track of the Browns in The Plain Dealer and on the newspaper's cleveland.com website at cleveland.com/browns.
Want to read about the game exploits of former Browns stars such as Brown and Kosar? The Plain Dealer's Browns history database includes the PD game stories on every regular season and playoff game in Browns history.
Alex Mack on the way
Nate Davis of USAToday.com lists some NFL players who could emerge as stars this season, including center....
Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns: Eric Mangini got an excellent first-round center (Nick Mangold) in his rookie year coaching the Jets. Seems he got another one last season, his first in Cleveland. A heady player, Mack didn't miss a snap as a rookie in 2009. He and left tackle Joe Thomas look like the foundation of an offense that continues to take shape.
Eric Mangini's (happy?) dilemma
Jake Delhomme will likely open the season as the Browns starting quarterback, but Seneca Wallace is expected to take some snaps and, even, occasionally be on the field with Delhomme.
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository wonders how coach Eric Mangini might handle the situation. He writes:
Will Wallace get just three or four snaps in the first real game? Will it be closer to 10? If Wallace gives Tampa Bay fits, what then?
How much might Mangini — who covers the topic in great detail with Mike Holmgren, Gil Haskell and Brian Daboll — be inclined to go back and forth with Delhomme and Wallace to keep an opponent off balance?
Two-minute drill
On CBSSports.com, questions about the potential fantasy league impact of Browns running backs Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty.
The Browns are mentioned by Don Banks in his "Inside the NFL" for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.
Center Alex Mack's comments about the Browns in a story by Matt Florjancic for ClevelandBrowns.com.