Bitterness Sets in for Browns Fans
Published December 31, 2007
Now, I don't really blame the Colts. I don't want you to think that I am trashing them or their coach, Tony Dungy. That would be a cop out too. I don't know what I want. I don't have a solution. The Colts would have looked really stupid if they had played all those starters and one of them had gotten hurt. But still, they did manage to work out Reggie Wayne long enough to make sure he was the league's leading receiver before the first half was over. That included him taking some earth shattering hits on quick passes. Why is it that the Colts were willing to risk injury for that, but not to try and win the game? I don't have the answer to that question.
What I do know is that the Browns earned every single win and loss on their schedule. The Browns earned the win in Baltimore just like they earned the loss in Oakland and the loss in Cincinnati that put their fate in the Colts' hands. And while I am still not blaming the Colts, I do know that the Titans didn't earn that victory last night. It was sloppy, the universe was seemingly against them as they lost the turnover battle and as injury seemingly caught up with them. The unwillingness of the Colts on the other side was too much for the Titans' ineptitude to overcome.
That, my friends, is a bitter pill to swallow.
So, we can wait a little while longer before we look to the future of this surprising Browns team. Right now, I just need a bit more time to curse into space.
Craig Lyndall writes about all things related to Cleveland sports for WaitingForNextYear.com. 
- Bitterness Sets in for Browns Fans
- Published: December 31, 2007
- Type: News
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Football (American)
- Writer: Craig Lyndall
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Comments on this articleComments
As a Steeler fan, I grew up hating the Browns. The Steelers and the Browns are huge rivals. I actually went to the Nov. Browns game where they almost beat us! Even I, the diehard Steelers fan, feel bad for the Browns. They had their first good season in a very long time. Better luck next year. :)
DBJ, that wasn't a game against the Super Bowl champs. The Titans played horrendously and still BARELY came out on top of the third string Colts. Enjoy it, but don't try to defend it.
I still don't understand why Dungy didn't call his final timeout...or how Vince Young can show his face in public.
First of all, I feel for the sensible Browns fan who doesn't get to enjoy the playoffs after a really nice season. As for the blogger, you are naive to expect the Colts to bring their "A" game in a contest in which they have nothing to gain.
Read the article Titan Fan. I didn't expect them to bring their A game. Still, how could I not be a bit bitter that the Titans were able to play as badly as they did and still make it into the playoffs?
This isn't the first time Jeff Fisher took a bad team to the playoffs. The 2002 Titans had no Pro Bowlers on the roster, and were not in the Top 10 in either points scored or allowed. That team also made it to the AFC Championship, somehow.
I also heard a couple of days ago that Kerry Collins might make a better start than Vince Young, quad strain or no quad strain. It's against San Diego, so I wonder if it matters.
Craig--you are being ridiculous to state the Titans played "badly". They HAD to win their final three games to have a chance at the playoffs, two of them road contests, and they did. They won ten games this year while playing in the toughest division in pro football.
Still, their accomplishments would have been meaningless without a big hand from Cincinnati in week 16. Isn't that really what you should be feeling bitter about?
I was bitter about that too. Unfortunately for you, those two events are not mutually exclusive. I can have bitterness for both.
The Titans aren't in the same class as the Colts on most days and they played HORRIBLY in beating the Colts 2nd string by a measly 6 points. No amount of arguing on your part will change my mind.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/72487)
Kind of hard to take you seriously when you can't be bothered to note that the fumbles happened from two different Titans running backs. Brown fumbled and White fumbled.
If you haven't noticed (and apparently you haven't) the Titans have played the Colts pretty tight their last few games. Tennessee struggling on offense isn't new. Tennessee grinding out a win isn't new. Apparently you just haven't been paying attention.