Tag Archive: Browns


Breaking: Report Says Dick Jauron Joins Browns, Head Coach Won’t Confirm

Filed under: Breaking News!, Details! Details!, Eagles Football, NFL — Leave a comment
January 21, 2011

Dick Jauron is reportedly on his way out of Philly.

Via a tweet from @ProFootballTalk, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer has reported that Eagles secondary coach Dick Jauron has filled the defensive coordinator vacancy in Cleveland.

Mike Florio asked Browns head coach Pat Shurmur about the report and here’s what he had to say.

“I really don’t want to confirm that. I think it’ll become public and official from the Browns’ side of things very quickly. Dick is a very well respected guy in the profession, A guy that I have known for a long, long time. I think that’ll be public at some point, the direction that we’re gonna go.”

It seems like he said everything we need to hear… except for, you know, he didn’t confirm it.

Jauron was hired last February by the Eagles to serve as a secondary coach and senior assistant. Previously, he spent 10 years as a head coach in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and most recently, the Buffalo Bills.

In those years, he had only one winning season. The 2001 Chicago Bears won the now-extinct NFC Central, but lost Jauron’s only playoff game as a head coach. That team lost to the Eagles.

If Jauron departs for Cleveland, he’ll join new head coach Pat Shurmur. Shurmur had a tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles as well, much longer than the eleven months that Jauron has been with the team. Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post elaborates.

Prior to joining the Rams, Shurmur spent 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2008). He served as the team’s quarterbacks coach from 2002-08 and helped Donovan McNabb to three Pro Bowl selections during his tenure. In 2008, McNabb set Eagles single-season records with 345 completions and 3,916 passing yards.

Between those two and former Eagles GM Tom Heckert (who now has the same job title with the Browns), Cleveland has on helluva Philadelphia connection. But nothing is officially set in stone regarding Jauron.

If he does indeed join the Browns staff, Eagles fans shouldn’t be too concerned. It’s not clear how serious the team was about making him their defensive coordinator. Many have subscribed to the school of thought that suggests that Jauron was only a fall-back option for the team, and if the Eagles wanted him as coordinator, it would have happened already.

Jauron’s only year in Philadelphia happened to be the year where the Eagles earned the title of “Worst Red Zone Defense in 25 Years”. The Birds allowed 31 passing touchdowns. There’s a lot of blame to share here, and Jauron deserves at least a little bit.

His departure would mean that by the beginning of next season, they’ll have a new defensive coordinator, a new line coach, and someone else to replace Jauron with responsibility in the secondary. An overhaul may not be a bad thing for this team, whose woes on both sides of the ball were often hidden by the “Michael Vick band-aid.” The drastic changes may be as necessary on the sidelines as it is on the field itself.

Your thoughts?

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Blurb Sauce! 1/20/11

Filed under: Blurb Sauce!, Eagles Football, MLB, NFL, Phillies Baseball, Shut The F%&! Up Files — Leave a comment
January 20, 2011

"Dude... I didn't want to be the one to tell you this... great shirt, by the way... but, uh... you don't have a defensive coordinator. You didn't hear it from me."

“Blurb Sauce!” is a quick look at some of the stories floating around the world of sports today. It’’s also the active ingredient in 5-Hour Energy that prevents you from getting that “2:30″ feeling.

Another Name in the Eagles Defensive Coordinator Hat

Jim Mora, Jr. pulled his name out yesterday, and the Broncos are likely to land Mike Trgovak, the current defensive line coach in Green Bay. Dick Jauron is still a possibility, despite his interview with the Cleveland Browns this week. But he’s far from a lock, and now the Eagles have been granted permission to speak with another name. View full article »

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Why a 7-9 Division Winner is not a Big Deal, amongst other things

Filed under: Amongst Other Things, Eagles Football, NFL — Leave a comment
January 3, 2011

"Not five wins! Not six wins! Seven, baby! We're in! WOO-HOO!"

Stop complaining.

Yes, conceptually it is a shame that not one, but two 10-win teams were kept out of the playoffs in the NFC.  That doesn’t happen very often. It’s even worse when a 7-9 team does enter the postseason because they were tied for the best record in their division.

They didn’t have the best record outright, they were tied…

…tied.

Icing on the cake? Sure! The Seattle Seahawks were outscored by 97 points in the regular season and were 2-7 in their last nine games going into last night’s regular season finale.

Yeah, I know… but here’s why you can’t complain. View full article »

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NFL Week 15: Take Three

Filed under: NFL, Take Three — Leave a comment
December 19, 2010

“No, dude. Listen. You don’t need your appendix to live…”

Each week, I take on the sportsbooks in Vegas and make my picks in the NFL. It was a 2-1 week for me (42-37 overall) in Week 14 after Rex Ryan and the free-falling New York Jets made me look stupid. Here’s how it looks on paper, folks. And below are my picks for Week 15.

12/12/10 Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers ATL -8 Win 41-36-0
12/12/10 Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills BUF Win 42-36-0
12/12/10 Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets NYJ -6 Loss 42-37-0

Washington @ Dallas -9 – Ryan’s Pick: Dallas

Rex Grossman is not the answer. Suspending Albert Haynesworth was not the solution. Mike Shanahan must feel like Joe Gibbs the second time around, as coaching the Redskins seems to be much more of a curse than it is a gift.

The free fall in Washington will continue today as they roll into the Lone Star State to play the Dallas Cowboys. The ‘Boys are not the 1-7 team we saw earlier in the season. They’re playing much better football. The Redskins are 2-4 against the spread in their last six games, and the quarterback change from Donovan McNabb to Rex Grossman isn’t going to help here.

Ryan’s main concern – Under their “skin”: Dallas is 1-4 against the spread in their last five games when playing Washington at home. Numbers like that will always make you think twice, but Grossman will make you think a whole lot more than that. Washington is experiencing a free fall on and off the field. As Washington “experiements” while dividing the locker room, Jason Garrett’s team is playing for pride. Take the ‘Boys.

Atlanta -7 @ Seattle – Ryan’s Pick: Atlanta

I’m a believer, and I’m taking the Falcons for the second straight week on the road. The Falcons are hot, winning their last seven games. Matt Ryan’s team dismantled the dismal Panthers last week and to be truthful, the Seahawks really aren’t that much better. They are 21st in points in the NFL and 26th in total yards. The Falcons will have no problem shutting down the league’s second-worst rushing offense.

The Falcons are 9-4 against the spread last week in the 2010 season. They’re also playing with the New Orleans Saints on their coattails. Mike Smith will not let his team falter against a dismal Seattle team. Look for Atlanta to take this game by more than a touchdown.

Ryan’s main concern – Still in it: The Seahawks play in the painfully terrible NFC West. While it tests my gag reflex, that’s the reality. Seattle is… um… challenging the St. Louis Rams to take the division, meaning they still have something to play for. Teams are always more interesting to watch when there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel. But this is also the 11-2 Falcons were talking about here. Not the matchup Pete Carroll was hoping for with the playoffs on the line.

Kansas City +3 @ Saint Louis – Ryan’s Pick: Kansas City

Matt Cassel will start for the Kansas City Cheifs today, and that is vastly important. He has 19 touchdowns and only one intereceptions in the last eight games that he’s played. The Chiefs went without him last week and only amassed 19 yards in the passing game.

St. Louis has covered the spread in three of their last five games. In the three games they covered, they played the 49ers, the Broncos, and the Cardinals. In the two games they didn’t, they played the Falcons and the Saints. Make no mistake about it, the Chiefs are closer to the latter teams mentioned than they are the former. With Matt Cassel under center, this team will be able to handle a very talented Sam Bradford and a not-too-talented Rams team. Cassel is 8-3 against NFC opponents.

Ryan’s main concern – Rams at home: Steve Spagnuolo’s team is 4-2 at home this year (They’re 2-5 otherwise). They beat the Chargers earlier in the season in the dome. The other three teams? Washington, Seattle, Carolina. Quality, not quantity folks. Take the Cheifs, or take Matt Cassel. However you want to look at it.

Enjoy Week 14!

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NFL Week 14: Take Three

Filed under: NFL, Take Three — Leave a comment
December 12, 2010

Each week, I take on the sportsbooks in Vegas and make my picks in the NFL. After a quick start to the year (13-5 through Week 3), things have leveled out quite a bit. Fortunately, I’m still in the black with a 40-36 record. Don’t believe, I’ve documented every last game, which you’ll see below. But first, my picks for Week 14!

Atlanta -8 @ Carolina — Ryan’s Pick: Atlanta

I really hate going against home dogs, but this is the Carolina Panthers. They are 1-11 straight up and 3-9 against the spread. It doesn’t help that they’re playing arguably the best team in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons (10-2). The total has gone over in six of Atlanta’s last seven games, and that doesn’t bode well for the Panthers either. If there’s a lot of points in this one, Carolina won’t be scoring many of them.

Ryan’s main concern – How Jonathan got his groove back: Panthers’ running back Jonathan Stewart is getting the majority of the carries once again, taking the load off Mike Goodson. DeAngelo Williams is out for the season, and Stewart looked good last week, being a sneeze away from 100 yards and a touchdown. Stewart is a bit hard to figure out. I wouldn’t say he’s back to 2009 form, where he scored 10 touchdowns and surpassed the 1,000 yard mark, but he still remains a threat to this line in a home game.

Cleveland at Buffalo Pick — Ryan’s Pick: Buffalo

I love watching the Buffalo Bills (2-10), it’s just unfortunate that they can’t close games. They are 2-5 in their last seven, but that includes three overtime losses by a field goal and regulation loss… also by a field goal. This team’s ability to stay in games shows. They are 5-1-1 against the spread in the last seven games, with the only glaring ‘ATS” loss being the 38-14 blowout against the Vikings last week. This team will look to rebound, and they have the offensive weapons to do it. Stevie Johnson is the real deal, and I believe you’ll never see anything like that overtime touchdown drop against the Steelers from him again. Take Buffalo in the pick’em.

Ryan’s main concern – The other Peyton: There’s no telling what Browns running back Peyton Hillis is capable of from week-to-week. This fantasy monster has 11 touchdowns on the ground and two scores from the air. Not only is he the team’s leading rusher by far, he is tops in team receptions with 53. Make no mistake, Hillis is a gamechanger. Unfortunately, for the Browns, he’s the only one on their entire offense.

Miami @ New York Jets -6 — Ryan’s Pick: New York Jets

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets (9-3) embarrassed on Monday Night Football, and the Miami Dolphins (6-6) are not the New England Patriots (10-2). Losing a close game to Cleveland last week, the Dolphins couldn’t get their offense going at any point, with Brandon Marshall and Brian Hartline sidelined and ineffectiveness at quarterback. Even if Marshall plays, he hasn’t been the player we’ve seen in Denver, with only one receiving touchdown this year. He’ll also be stuck on Revis island… not looking good.

The Jets defense will be on point today, and may have a little help from the inclement weather expected. Mark Sanchez, despite the criticism often directed his way, has been more good than bad in his sophomore year. I expect the running game to take over with LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene (in that order), and Santonio Holmes is always capable of making a big play.

Ryan’s main concern – Nothing to report: I expect the Jets to win this game by way more than six points. This has the potential to be the mismatch of the week.

And without further adieu, my betting record for 2010. Enjoy Week 14!

Date Game Decision Result Record
9/9/2010 Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints MIN +6 Win 1-0-0
9/12/2010 Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills MIA -3 Win 2-0-0
9/12/2010 Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears DET +6.5 Win 3-0-0
9/12/2010 San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks SF -3 Loss 3-1-0
9/12/2010 Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins WAS +4 Win 4-1-0
9/13/2010 Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets BAL +1 Win 5-1-0
9/14/2010 San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs KC +6 Win 6-1-0
9/20/2010 Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings Over 41 Loss 6-2-0
9/20/2010 Buffalo Bills @ Green Bay Packers GB -14 Win 7-2-0
9/20/2010 Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns KC +3 Win 8-2-0
9/20/2010 Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers Under 45 Loss 8-3-0
9/20/2010 New York Giants @ Indianapolis Colts IND -5.5 Win 9-3-0
9/27/2010 Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers CIN -3.5 Win 10-3-0
9/27/2010 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers TB +3 Loss 10-4-0
9/27/2010 San Francisco 49ers @ Kansas City Cheifs SF -3 Loss 10-5-0
9/27/2010 Philadelphia Eagels @ Jacksonvile Jaguars PHI -3 Win 11-5-0
9/27/2010 New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins NYJ +2.5 Win 12-5-0
9/28/2010 Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears CHI +3 Win 13-5-0
10/3/2010 Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns CIN -3 Loss 13-6-0
10/3/2010 Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints NO -14 Loss 13-7-0
10/3/2010 Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars IND -8 Loss 13-8-0
10/3/2010 Chicago Bears @ New York Giants Over 44.5 Loss 13-9-0
10/4/2010 New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins NE -1.5 Win 14-9-0
10/10/2010 New York Giants @ Houston Texans HOU -3 Loss 14-10-0
10/10/2010 Kansas City Cheifs @ Indianapolis Colts IND -1.5
New Orleans Saints @ Arizona Cardinals NO -1 Loss 14-11-0
10/10/2010 Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins GB -3 Loss 14-12-0
10/10/2010 Tennessee Titans @ Dallas Cowboys Under 43 Loss 14-13-0
10/10/2010 Philadelphia Eagles @ San Francisco 49ers PHI + 3.5 Win 15-13-0
10/17/2010 Detroit Lions @ New York Giants DET + 10 Win 16-13-0
10/17/2010 Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles PHI -3 Win 17-13-0
10/17/2010 Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears CHI -7 Loss 17-14-0
10/17/2010 New York Jets @ Denver Broncos NYJ -3.5 Win 18-14-0
10/17/2010 Indianapolis Colts @ Washington Redskins IND -4 Loss 18-15-0
10/24/2010 Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens BAL -14 Loss 18-16-0
10/24/2010 Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears WAS +3 Win 19-16-0
10/24/2010 Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans PHI -3 Loss 19-17-0
10/24/2010 Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks ARI +7 Loss 19-18-0
10/24/2010 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins PIT -3 Loss 19-19-0
10/31/2010 Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals MIA Win 20-19-0
10/31/2010 Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs KC -7 Loss 20-20-0
10/31/2010 Green Bay Packers @ New York Jets GB +6 Win 21-20-0
10/31/2010 Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders OAK -3 Win 22-20-0
10/31/2010 Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers TEN +11.5
Minnesota Vikings @ New England Patriots MIN +12 Win 23-20-0
10/31/2010 Pittsburgh Steelers @ New Orleans Saints PIT +1 Loss 23-21-0
11/7/2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons TB +9.5 Win 24-21-0
11/7/2010 Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders KC Loss 24-22-0
11/7/2010 New York Jets @ Detroit Lions DET +5.5 Win 25-22-0
11/7/2010 Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings Over 42.5 Win 26-22-0
11/7/2010 Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles IND Loss 26-23-0
11/7/2010 Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers Over 46 Win 27-23-0
11/14/2010 Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars JAX -1 Win 28-23-0
11/14/2010 Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears MIN – 2.5 Loss 28-24-0
11/14/2010 Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills DET +1.5 Loss 28-25-0
11/14/2010 Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos KC -1.5 Loss 28-26-0
11/14/2010 New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers NE +4.5 Win 29-26-0
11/14/2010 Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins PHI -3 Win 30-26-0
11/21/2010 Washington Redskind @ Tennessee Titans WAS +7 Win 31-26-0
11/21/2010 Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers OAK +7 Loss 31-27-0
11/21/2010 Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals BUF +5 Win 32-27-0
11/21/2010 Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots Over 50 Win 33-27-0
11/21/2010 New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles PHI -4 Win 34-27-0
11/25/2010 New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys Over 50 Win 35-27-0
11/25/2010 Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets CIN +10 Loss 35-28-0
11/28/2010 Minnesota Vikings @ Washington Redskins WAS +2 Loss 35-29-0
11/28/2010 Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons GB +1.5 Loss 35-30-0
11/28/2010 Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns CLE -10 Loss 35-31-0
11/28/2010 Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears PHI -3.5 Loss 35-32-0
11/28/2010 St. Louis Rams @ Denver Broncos STL Win 36-32-0
11/28/2010 Miami Dolphins @ Oakland Raiders OAK -3 Loss 36-33-0
12/2/2010 Houston Texans @ Philadelphia Eagles Over 51.5 Win 37-33-0
12/5/2010 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans JAX +3 Win 38-33-0
12/5/2010 Washington Redskins @ New York Giants WAS +7 Loss 38-34-0
12/5/2010 Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions Over 43.5 Win 39-34-0
12/5/2010 New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals CIN Loss 39-35-0
12/5/2010 Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Under 43 Loss 39-36-0
12/5/2010 Saint Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals STL -4 Win 40-36-0
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