Rodney Cribbsfield

The guys on NFL Radio keep referring to Devon Hester as the best returner of all time, while Josh Cribbs holds all the records. Trouble is, Josh plays for Cleveland. The big market shuts down the pundits' brains.

Did you know that there is a "one of a kind" running back? "Defensive backs don't know how to stop him. They just launch themselves at his legs. There's no other running back in the NFL who's that big and that fast, with all he can do. Brandon Jacobs..."

Hillis got the cover of Madden, but that was just too freaking obvious, wasn't it? And everybody voted. They overrode the pundits who predicted it would be Micheal Vick. Nobody asked John Madden. Who do you think HE liked?

At least McCoy is getting rave reviews--especially by Jim Miller, Rich Gannon, and John Gruden.

Phil Simms said he didn't have an NFL arm, but he loved Tavarez Jackson. By Phil's standards, the majority of NFL quarterbacks don't have NFL arms. I bet he REALLY hates Kyle Orton! I used to think Phil was the real expert. I still love the way he's blunt and pulls no punches. But all he talks about is throwing hard, spinning it, and being a leader.

He does like McCoy's personality. He concedes that in a West Coast he might be allright. You can tell he's bored. He's not Tavarez Jackson or Derrick Anderson, and Phil is bored by guys who can't sling it like they can.

I can't leave it alone--I'm sorry. I rarely hear Phil talk about quick reads or accuracy. It's as if they don't matter. Phil is a smart guy, and certainly was a great (and underrated) quarterback. But this is another example of how smart, knowlegable people can be myopic and mentally lazy.

Everybody loves Evan Moore, too. Pat Kirwin, for instance, points out that you can't bring the safety up when you've got him or Watson ready to get behind them. Then he repeats that the Browns need a big-play wide recievers so that defenses can't stack the box. Amazing.

They love Jackson too. finally somebody wrote an article about how perfect he is for this defense. (I mean, somebody besides me.)

I want to talk about Massequoi but I've done that to death. Take out his stats, check out his offenses and quarterbacks, and turn on your freaking brain. You'll only read what I told you elsewhere after the fact.

Great move to lock up Joe Thomas forever. Instead of overpaying MoMass's replacement.

Jayme Mitchell has done pretty well so far. Sheard looks great FOR A ROOKIE. Taylor hasn't made a lot of plays, but IS helping keep big monsters off Jackson. I can't wait til these two learn all the dirty tricks.

Luavao stifled the second dirtiest player in the NFL (Suh) last week. He is the main reason I got so infuriated about people talking about the right SIDE of the offensive line, when they had right guard covered two or three-deep. Clevelanders never saw a molehill. Never noticed the baby in the bathwater either. Also: We're all gonna die.

The heat on McCoy came mainly over left guard (and Corey Williams). I can't wait to read that we need a whole new offensive line.

The defense in general, despite missing several starters, has looked remarkably good under the circumstances. For the secondary, it's similar, but the front seven is completely different, and I'd expected a lot more mistakes.

Jauron (along with Brown and Fujita) deserves much of the credit. They've gone from an insideously diabolical Ryan defense to something like a plug-and-play style. While there will be some wrinkles, the base defense is simple, so that the players can just react and play thoughtlessly fast.

I still prefer the 3-4 and all that versatility, but there's much to be said for fundamentals.

One thing about this defense is that it requires the majority of players to win individual battles. It will need to be very muscular (except for the defensive ends).

Speaking of which, I hope to see Benard back up to speed soon. I'd thought that he'd muscled up, but apparantly (maybe also) got fatter (on purpose). Blame the strike and non-communication with coaches. I'll bet he plays best at around 260.

Why was anybody surprised that Sheard showed up at around his college playing weight of 268? Oh yeah: Because for the combine he slimmed down because he might have been a 3-4 OLB. Lazy lazy lazy. A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

Joe Haden got toasted twice last week. Can't you people be consistant? You're supposed to be saying he sucks! I mean, Wright was here and steadily improving for two seasons, to the extent that after his second, many of you were saying that he should have made the Pro Bowl.

Then the Ravens strafe him, and suddenly he sucks. Why did you drag Wright off the pedestal and to the hanging tree in one afternoon, and yet overlook Haden's bad day? You can't possibly have matured that much in one offseason! You must just like him because he goes to Cavs games.

It's ok with me. Every cornerback in the NFL has had gameS like that, and I think Haden is da bomb. Just wondering why you don't think with your brains.

Brown's performance is somewhat more disturbing, due to his age. He got toasted too, both weeks. Last season, he was not just good, but excellent. I hope it's just rust, but I'm like Belichick about age. One year...probably just rust. He should be fine. I hope. At least whenever he isn't anymore, he'll be a top-notch free safety. I'd even extend him for a couple years because of that.

well okbye.