Joe Public
Gabibbo's Finest
The first Browns ML of the season.
(insert fanfare and applause here)
Yes, my friends, the time has come.
That time is to walk up to the window, remove a slab of green from your roll, and say to the cashier, "I'd like the Browns' moneyline, please."
At which point, just so you know, a manager may very well come over and shake your hand. Or, if it's a female cashier, she may subtly slip off her undergarments and hand you to them right there because you, my friend, are just that insightful.
Chicks dig that.
Breakdown the game you say?
Oh, well, all right. Since you asked nicely.
There's really only one thing that needs to be said for this game from the Cleveland side.
The Browns, under Romeo, are 1-11 against the division. They have not won a divisional game since 2005.
They have not beaten the Steelers under Romeo.
And that they've come close, that they even should have beaten them is nice, but it's not a 'W.'
"But, Joe," you say, "you're telling me they haven't beaten this team in over two years, why should I bet them now? You're not honestly playing the 'due' factor, are you?"
No, I'm not.
Here's the simple fact of this game. The Browns MUST win this game. Yes, I am telling you that the Cleveland Browns have a 'must win' game in Week One of the season.
It is a must win for Romeo, it is a must win for Charlie Frye, it is a must win for the city. If Romeo expects to keep his job and if he expects to prove that this year, year three, is where he pays his plan off, it all has to start on Sunday.
The Browns will not have a good season, their schedule is too difficult. They're not going to have a ton of wins this year. I know this, the fans know this, and the coaching staff won't admit it, but they know it too.
By Week Six or so Brady Quinn will likely be starting for this team.
But before they raise the flag, before the fans start booing and before the bottles start being thrown onto the field. Charlie Frye is going to do his dammedest to make a statement that he can start in this league, Jamal Lewis (who's run like a beast all preseason) is going to make a statement that his career is not over, and the Browns are going to come to play.
One thing you've never really been able to say under Romeo is that the Browns mailed it in. They won't this weekend.
This game has been circled on the calendar for a long time. Being 0-7 vs. Pittsburgh for the last few years isn't acceptable.
The Browns have a solid secondary. Yes, their D-line sucks, and the Steelers should be able to run on them, but that's all right, the Browns will be able to throw on the Steelers. And now, with the threat of some semblance of a running game (see: Lewis, Jamal; Thomas, Joe; etc.) the Steelers aren't simply going to be able to pin their ears back and go after Frye.
Frye's looked good in the preseason, the offense has been balanced and well-coached for a change, the Browns' WRs are healthy, Winslow seems healthy, they have the weapons. The first game of the year between these two is always closer than the second. Last year the Browns should have won in Cleveland.
This weekend they fix that.
Browns +4.5 (2 units)
Browns ML +200 (1.5 units)
Good luck, gents.
Woof.
(insert fanfare and applause here)
Yes, my friends, the time has come.
That time is to walk up to the window, remove a slab of green from your roll, and say to the cashier, "I'd like the Browns' moneyline, please."
At which point, just so you know, a manager may very well come over and shake your hand. Or, if it's a female cashier, she may subtly slip off her undergarments and hand you to them right there because you, my friend, are just that insightful.
Chicks dig that.
Breakdown the game you say?
Oh, well, all right. Since you asked nicely.
There's really only one thing that needs to be said for this game from the Cleveland side.
The Browns, under Romeo, are 1-11 against the division. They have not won a divisional game since 2005.
They have not beaten the Steelers under Romeo.
And that they've come close, that they even should have beaten them is nice, but it's not a 'W.'
"But, Joe," you say, "you're telling me they haven't beaten this team in over two years, why should I bet them now? You're not honestly playing the 'due' factor, are you?"
No, I'm not.
Here's the simple fact of this game. The Browns MUST win this game. Yes, I am telling you that the Cleveland Browns have a 'must win' game in Week One of the season.
It is a must win for Romeo, it is a must win for Charlie Frye, it is a must win for the city. If Romeo expects to keep his job and if he expects to prove that this year, year three, is where he pays his plan off, it all has to start on Sunday.
The Browns will not have a good season, their schedule is too difficult. They're not going to have a ton of wins this year. I know this, the fans know this, and the coaching staff won't admit it, but they know it too.
By Week Six or so Brady Quinn will likely be starting for this team.
But before they raise the flag, before the fans start booing and before the bottles start being thrown onto the field. Charlie Frye is going to do his dammedest to make a statement that he can start in this league, Jamal Lewis (who's run like a beast all preseason) is going to make a statement that his career is not over, and the Browns are going to come to play.
One thing you've never really been able to say under Romeo is that the Browns mailed it in. They won't this weekend.
This game has been circled on the calendar for a long time. Being 0-7 vs. Pittsburgh for the last few years isn't acceptable.
The Browns have a solid secondary. Yes, their D-line sucks, and the Steelers should be able to run on them, but that's all right, the Browns will be able to throw on the Steelers. And now, with the threat of some semblance of a running game (see: Lewis, Jamal; Thomas, Joe; etc.) the Steelers aren't simply going to be able to pin their ears back and go after Frye.
Frye's looked good in the preseason, the offense has been balanced and well-coached for a change, the Browns' WRs are healthy, Winslow seems healthy, they have the weapons. The first game of the year between these two is always closer than the second. Last year the Browns should have won in Cleveland.
This weekend they fix that.
Browns +4.5 (2 units)
Browns ML +200 (1.5 units)
Good luck, gents.
Woof.
