2010 NFL Preview: Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have not had much to give their fans to cheer about since returning to the NFL in 1999. They have only two winning seasons and one playoff appearance in that span, giving the ever-so-loyal Dawg Pound nothing but heartbreak and disappointment and futility.
With the arrival of Mike Holmgren last season as the team's general manager, optimism is high, as he has been a proven winner and Super Bowl coach and GM with Green Bay and Seattle, and the Browns have a chance to make the city of Cleveland their city after "The Decision" and LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers. A bright spot was that the Eric Mangini and his team, who was on the verge of being fired in Week 13 when the Browns fell to a dreadful 1-11, somehow managed to play some inspiring football and reeled off four straight wins to close out the season at 5-11. Can the Browns keep the momentum going and give some positivity for their fans? Technorati goes inside the Cleveland Browns.
Recap:
- 2009 Record: (5-11, 4th AFC North, missed playoffs)
- Key Additions: QB Jake Delhomme (Carolina Panthers), QB Seneca Wallace (Seattle Seahawks), FB Peyton Hillis (Denver Broncos), WR Bobby Engram (Seattle Seahawks), TE Ben Watson (New England Patriots), TE Alex Smith (Philadelphia Eagles), OT Tony Pashos (San Francisco 49ers), DE/OLB Chris Gocong (Philadelphia Eagles), ILB Scott Fujita (New Orleans Saints), CB Sheldon Brown (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Key Departures: QB Brady Quinn (Denver Broncos), QB Derek Anderson (Arizona Cardinals), RB Jamal Lewis (free agency), WR Donte' Stallworth (Baltimore Ravens), WR Mike Furrey (Washington Redskins), OT Ryan Tucker (free agency), G Rex Hadnot (Arizona Cardinals), C Hank Fraley (St. Louis Rams), DE/DT Corey Williams (Detroit Lions), DE/OLB Kamerion Wimbley (Oakland Raiders), DE/OLB Alex Hall (New York Giants), S Brodney Pool (New York Jets).
Overview:
Offense: There is a new quarterback in town, and his name is Jake Delhomme. Delhomme, for seven years had a pretty good run in Carolina until the 2008 Playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals in which he committed six turnovers in that game. He later on admitted that the whole 2009 season, he never got over that game, and tried too hard to correct his mistakes. The end result: He made more. In just 11 games, Delhomme threw 18 interceptions, and committed six fumbles, and the Panthers were 4-7. After a broken finger sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Panthers went 4-1 under Matt Moore, going 8-8 for the season and leading up to the eventual release of the only Panthers' QB to lead them to the Super Bowl. Jake has said that he has put aside his demons of that Arizona playoff game and 2009 season, and has been off to a great start in the preseason. Mike Holmgren admired his leadership skills on and off the field, and after he got rid of Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, felt like Delhomme was his man. Holmgren also brought in his longtime backup QB Seneca Wallace from the Seattle Seahawks, but Wallace should just be there to show the ropes of his system to the players, being he has been with Holmgren's systems his whole career.
Follow Technorati