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Talking Browns and Bengals

Written by Duane Long | 26 July 2009

I have watched the Eric Mangini story unfold. His coaching life has paralleled that of his mentor Bill Bellichek so closely. Browns fans will remember his time in Cleveland. He was a surly curmudgeon who would pass players in the hall and not even speak to them. He was just as good a coach back then. His people skills and his leadership skills were simply awful. He learned from that and has become a coach that many would argue as the best ever. Mangini has the same pedigree. Brilliant tactician that many New York Jet players could not be happier to see go. If his career continues to mirror Bellicheks, Browns fans might have found the guy they have been looking for at least since Marty Schottenheimer and I would say since Blanton Collier. Not a list of coaches to be proud of in Cleveland.

Any other club in the league would have fired Marvin Lewis by now. He is not winning games. The defense, supposedly his forte, has not been a solid unit since he has been there. He has made terrible personnel decisions. The Bengals needed an RB in the 2004 draft about as much as we need more cameras focused on Paris Hilton. The only thing worse was the choice of Chris Perry, a one year wonder if there ever was one. One winning season. One playoff game. Just because his daddy was a great football mind does not mean the son will be. There is no better proof than Mike Brown. The bottom line has always been the primary reason behind decisions. Not having to pay out Marvin Lewis early is why he is still there. A mess of an organization that will not be a winner as long as the Browns are in charge.


I saw a headline on ESPN about LaDainian Tomlinson being washed up. I believe he is. He had one of the greatest single seasons in NFL history in 2006. He rushed for 400 yards less the very next year. His touchdown total was cut in half. Last year he carried the ball 292 times compared to his record season where he carried it 348 times. In 2006 he had 2323 total yards and 31 touchdowns. Last year he had 1536 total yards and 11 touchdowns. I have noticed that it happens with backs suddenly. The wear and tear seems to take its toll all at once. I remember it with Earl Campbell and Eddie George. In 1980 Earl Campbell rushed for 1934 yards on 373 carries. He averaged 128 yards per game. 5.2 per carry. He had 1376 yards on 361 carries the next year. 86 yards per game and 3.8 per carry. In 1982 he rushed for 538 yards on 157 carries. Eddie George had 1500 yards in 2000 and 939 in 2001. He came back with 1165 in 2003 and 1065 in 2004 but he was never the same back. Football is a debilitating sport. No players take more of a beating than backs.
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