Labels

Third string quarterback, first round draft pick.  Because if these labels, everybody on NFL Radio and everywhere else said the Browns had no chance to win vs. the 0-2 Vikings.

I was also hearing things like "The Browns offense doesn't have a lot of weapons."  (Chuckle) "That's an understatement" (snicker).

I heard this, and wondered what Cameron and Gordon are...or when they went to heaven or the cornfield or wherever.

Campbell was signed before Hoyer, and called the second QB.  Then Hoyer was signed, and they didn't bother changing it.  It didn't shock me when Hoyer was named the starter for this game--second string and third string are just labels.

Hoyer throws a more accurate deep ball and fits Turner's offense better than Campbell--what's the big deal?  Can't people think anymore?

It was downright ignorant to think that trading TRich was suicide in Turner/Chud's system.  It was lazy and negligent for all those pundits to speak of Gordon's return so dismissively, and ignore Cameron completely.

I suppose I can cut them slack for expecting Hoyer to suck, but not to be so certain of it.

Now that they beat the Vikings, the talk on NFL Radio won't be about the Browns, but about how crappy the Vikings are, to allow this horrible team to knock them off in their house.  Hoyer will still be a "third string quarterback", they will be a team with "no running back", which scored only 16 points in it's first two games.

Well, team two was the Ravens, who I believe just hammered the Texans, and team one was the Dolphins, who subsequently beat Indianapolis--as if anybody would notice that in this context.  Really good teams, ok?

During the game, some nimrod on the Bleacher Report threw a tantrum over Banner and company "tearing down" the team.

Don't believe everything you read.  Adam Schefter, who is usually correct and one of my top sources, said that the Browns really wanted this Tate guy as a running back, and had Little and Gordon on the block.

I choked on the Gordon part, and am pretty confident that Adam tossed him in because the rumor mill has turned the Richardson trade into a fire sale and a surrender...LABELS.

This clown read that crap and swallowed it hook/line/sinker and made a fool of himself with that tantrum.

BEFORE his 10 catches for 146 yards, trading Gordon would have been utterly, completely insane.  He's 21 years old, and THE second-most important piece of this offense.  He's a scary, scary number one deep threat, and those are about as common as Joe Thomasses.

But maybe this guy is in love with Little, too.  I myself just can't write the guy off.  I mean, I've seen him make almost every catch over the last eleven games of last season, so I know he can be reliable.

However, if I can get a second rounder or something for him, I'll do it because he still scares me; you just can't count on that.  Braylon Edwards wound up probably losing more games than he won for the Browns.

They've got Cameron and Gordon, and there is some young talent in the wings, so this is a trade that would not hurt the team much.

Oh God no not the labels again!  THEY didn't draft him in the second round!  To them he's more valuable as a high draft pick!  Where he was drafted doesn't matter!

Speaking of draft picks, I was unable to watch the game, but Hoyer sounded pretty good.  I know that one interception was tipped, and another happened when he was hit while throwing.  And boy, wow--he sure as hell came through at crunch-time!

Now, Chud pretty much has to keep him in the starting role to see if he can keep it up; and progresses, as he should, with game experience.  I like that, because he's a local guy with a lot of tread left on his tires.

Unfortunately, Weeden is screwed for now.  As I said before, Gordon made the difference here, and Weeden might have done just as well.  The offense broke loose with the touchdown bomb, just the way Turner intended.  

They still weren't able to run effectively until the fourth quarter, but Turner got by that with Infantian dumpoffs to the backs, which were effective because of Gordon and Cameron running around deep.

Up next, the Bengals.  This is in reality the best team in the Division; better than the Ravens.  I can't make myself too optimistic.  It's too soon.  The Browns are too young, and have gaps here and there (especially at right guard hurry up guys get healthy!!)

But if I were writing a book about a home town longshot shocking the world...

Anyway it would be great if Hoyer keeps it up and turns out to be a franchise quarterback.  That last drive, with the Vikings ears pinned back and the team on his shoulders, was a really positive sign.  This is exactly what separates franchise guys from just real good guys.

But yeah it's early.  And anyway, they'll probably draft a quarterback high anyway, even if he's a backup for awhile.

Go Brian!