Dawg Pound | ID's Cleveland Browns (M16)

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The Browns

Since 1999, it's been bad quarterbacks and disbelief. Two winning seasons since 1999. No playoffs since 2002. No winning season since 2007.

How to fix the Browns? Is it yet another shot at a QB? Is it Johnny Football time? Who really knows. Yet another coaching staff is going to come into the door. They've tried the young upcoming coordinator, the old veteran, the hot college coach - nothing has worked. Their last four head coaches have survived just two years max. Rob Chudzinski got one year and he was gone.

They've tried everything at QB - #1 pick, late 1st round, 3rd round, Heisman winner, journeyman, trading for/and away QBs, veterans, rookies, undrafted free agents, even a 28-year old "mature" college QB. Everything. Something just doesn't seem to work each time.

How can someone fix the mess?

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Chise begins after Week 17 of 2015 NFL season.

Madden '16 PS4
Rosters as of week 14 2015
Injuries/trades off in sim
Records forced win/loss through week 15, then CPU decides rest

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Did Manziel do enough to keep Browns from taking a QB high in 2016 NFL Draft?


Is the Johnny Football era in Cleveland over before it really ever began?


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BEREA, Ohio --- Johnny Manziel's 2-2 mark in the final four games was just as good as the messy Browns in their 2-10 start over their first twelve. A win over the 49ers, Manziel couldn't help Cleveland stop the Russell Wilson train, an upset of the Chiefs, and Sunday's 27-21 loss to Pittsburgh closed the Browns 2015 campaign like so many others. No playoffs. High draft pick. The Browns' eighth straight losing season concluded (seven of those being with records of 4-12 or 5-11) with Manziel throwing two touchdowns against Pittsburgh and having no turnovers.

Manziel, in his last four games as Cleveland starter: 79-of-122 (64.75%), 1,062 yards, five touchdown passes (one against SF, one against Seattle, one against KC, two against Pittsburgh) and three interceptions (two against Seattle, one against San Francisco), along with fourteen carries for 68 yards and a touchdown run against Seattle.

The final four games: A head-slamming, but winning performance against San Francisco. Then in Seattle, Manziel didn't have a pretty day, he looked rattled, but still accounted for 2 touchdowns in a 38-14 loss. A road trip to playoff hopeful Kansas City and led the Browns to a 27-14 upset in K.C. with no interceptions thrown. In the closer, a six-point loss to Pittsburgh, with yet again, no turnovers.

I think many Cleveland fans hope they haven't seen the last of Johnny Manziel in Cleveland as a starter. Mike Pettine is likely to walk the plank come morning, so who knows what another coaching staff will do.

But the last four games may have swayed the Browns faithful about their second-year, questionable young quarterback. He can still be a damn good football player, if he gets another shot.

Once again, this is the same organization who has started 20-plus quarterbacks since 1999, so the revolving door at QB may open again for 2016. It may even be journeyman Josh McCown who started most of 2015. Who really knows? Time will tell in Cleveland.

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Black Monday 2015 is here and done


John Harbaugh's sudden firing in Baltimore was the shock of 'Black Monday'

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Lots of head coaching positions are open in the NFL. Some a shock, some fan bases surprised their head coach still has a job.

Wait, what?

John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens 4-12 this season. A Super Bowl in 2012. Only losing season under Harbaugh (been there since 2008). This was a stunner when it came across the news feed this morning. Injuries killed the Ravens in 2015. I guess one bad season just isn't acceptable in Baltimore. Baltimore will have to make one heck of a hire to save face.

Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys Like Baltimore, Dallas will unexpectedly be picking in the top five after being a "catch" away from the NFC Championship game a year ago. Garrett's only sub-.500 season in Dallas, and he's gone. Lots of people have been calling for this, but a mess at QB due to Romo's injury, and now possible retirement, along with other injuries, killed the Cowboys this year.

Sorry, I'm retired

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants With rumors that Eli Manning might be headed to the retirement home as well (yes, really), Tom Coughlin is retiring after 11 years in New York with two Super Bowls to his name. So long, Tom.

100% expected

Mike Pettine, Cleveland Browns Remember when Cleveland was a playoff contender for a point in 2014? Well, that didn't work out very well. Pettine lost control of the Browns and for some reason wanted to kill Josh McCown on the field instead of play Johnny Manziel.

Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers 9-7, 9-7, 3-13. Poor coaching, poor training led to McCoy's downfall after a hot start in 2013. Maybe it was Ken Whisenhunt who really got the Chargers going two years ago?

Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions Caldwell was buried after a 1-7 start after winning 11 games a year ago. A few late season wins couldn't dig Jim out of the grave.

Already gone

Ken Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans Fired November 4. No word if interim is staying.

Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins Fired October 5. No word if interim is staying.

Top 5: Who to hire?
1. John Harbaugh
2. Sean McDermott
3. Hue Jackson
4. Josh McDaniels
5. David Shaw

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2015 Wild Card Weekend: Fifth straight exit for Bengals


A.J. McCarron, who had to take over for Andy Dalton against Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, didn't perform in the playoffs and the Bengals get bounced yet again


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Can the Bengals just not win a playoff game? A.J. McCarron, who was forced into action week 14 against Pittsburgh, met the Steelers again after the Bengals flopped down the regular season stretch. McCarron looked very rushed all game, and it showed, completing just 51% of his passes, and tossing three interceptions in a 41-20 loss to Pittsburgh to bounce the Bengals from the playoffs, in the Wild Card round for the fifth straight season. 0-7 in the postseason for Marvin Lewis. The stands were emptying out in the mid-third quarter when McCarron was pick-sixed to give the Steelers a 41-13 lead.

In Green Bay, the Packers got torched by Adrian Peterson: 197 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, but the Packers got the last laugh as Aaron Rodgers found Richard Rodgers with 1:37 left for the game-winning touchdown, to pull of a 31-27 victory.

J-E-T-S. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdowns, two to Brandon Marshall and one to Chris Ivory in a 24-17 win over Indianapolis. Andrew Luck was picked twice in the second half to push the Jets into the divisional round.

The final game was Seattle @ Washington. Russell Wilson continued his late season streak of great play with three touchdown passes in the first half to build a 21-0 halftime lead. Kirk Cousins had two second half touchdowns, but had four turnovers overall, and was booed off the field in the fourth quarter in a 42-10 loss at home. Cousins said after the game that he was "overly frustrated" by the game and the reaction.

Next week:
Steelers @ Patriots
Seahawks @ Panthers
Jets @ Broncos
Packers @ Cardinals

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Another Harbaugh in Michigan, Hue Jackson returns to AFC West with San Diego


John Harbaugh joins brother Jim Harbaugh in the state of Michigan, but as the coach of the Lions

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Michigan is now known as the Harbaugh state.

John Harbaugh signed a four-year deal Monday to become the new head coach of the Detroit Lions, one week after being released as head coach in Baltimore, the shock of NFL's Black Monday. The Lions apparently reached out to Harbaugh within 2 hours of his firing in Baltimore and started interviewing Wednesday. Also looking to get Harbaugh were the Browns, the Dolphins and the Chargers reportedly.

Harbaugh joins brother Jim, who just finished his first year at alma mater Michigan after coaching the 49ers. The brothers faced off in Super Bowl XLVII and now both coach in the state of Michigan.

Also making a move on Monday was the San Diego Chargers.

Hue Jackson's Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday afternoon and Jackson was on a jet to San Diego Sunday morning and a deal was done Sunday night for Jackson to become the Chargers next head coach. Jackson, was 8-8 as Raiders head coach after being unexpectedly fired after just one season in 2011 and has been with the Bengals since. The Bengals have been to the playoffs the last five years, losing to San Diego in 2013 notably out of their five straight Wild Card exits. Jackson has been the offensive coordinator since 2014 in Cincinnati, after holding other positions since 2012.

[Cheese2121]

Hope it is safe to post, if not I can delete. Really happy to see you around my friend! Hope all is well and you are having a good holiday season.

You know I will definitely be following along for this. Surprising to see Harbaugh out in Baltimore but a great hiring for the Lions. I will be curious to see what direction you head at head coach. Looking forward to this!