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Fantasy Football Team Preview: Browns

Posted: Jul 8th 2009 3:00PM by Sean Lalley (author feed)
Filed under: Draft Advice, 2009 Team Previews

0 COMMENTS
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Team who fooled us all a year ago! So much promise, so much hype and yes so many wasted fantasy picks. The writing was on the wall for doom in Cleveland last season. Many put their faith in Braylon Edwards and Derek Anderson to be the next great QB-WR combination in fantasy football.

This season the Browns remain a little less profile. Jamal Lewis is on the cusp of crashing into the wall, Braylon Edwards is on the trading block and we aren't really 100% sure who the QB will be week in and week out. One thing is pretty certain, you can shelve Donte Stallworth for a very, very, very rainy day.
Continue Reading Fantasy Football Team Preview: Browns

Broncos' Matt Prater Leads Week 12 Fantasy Kicker Rankings

Posted: Nov 20th 2008 11:30AM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, Fantasy Football

3 COMMENTS
FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled weekly by the staff in order to provide answers to possible lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

The Broncos offense is really good. The Raiders defense is pretty bad, but they've been able to put the clamps on teams in the red zone and in the passing attack recently. The two teams are playing each other in the sea-level-challenged confines of Denver.

I'm smelling a good fantasy kicker! Loving some Matt Prater this week.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Matt Prater, vs. OAK
2. Jason Elam, vs. CAR
3. Jeff Reed, vs. CIN
4. Stephen Gostkowski, at MIA
5. Nick Folk, vs. SF
Continue Reading Broncos' Matt Prater Leads Week 12 Fantasy Kicker Rankings

Browns 29, Bills 27: When You Throw Three First Quarter Picks, Can't Really Expect a Win

Posted: Nov 18th 2008 1:45AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Bills, Browns

5 COMMENTS
The Bills, apparently, were in a "must-win" situation tonight (it's a somewhat fair assessment with a 6-4 knot at the top of the AFC East, but please, people, for the love of God can we stop using this phrase so much? It's not applicable until elimination actually applies.), but you wouldn't have known it from the first quarter that Trent Edwards put up.

Three interceptions is really the only thing I need to mention, right? It was that kind of night for two rookie quarterbacks in what started out as an incredibly ugly game -- and was that way through the first half -- but ended up being a pretty g-d exciting contest.

Both Cleveland and Buffalo, who suddenly account for two of the biggest 2008 flop-jobs (Cleveland has disappointed all season and the Bills are in a total free fall right now), looked like they had no interest in winning anything for the first 30 minutes, but ended up sparring off in a back-and-forth of last minute football that involved a few Brady Quinn strikes, more BEAST MODE than it was really fair to handle, and a pair of long, wind-affected field goals, only one of which spiked the uprights.

And it was a 56-yarder by Phil Dawson that ultimately sealed the game, even though Rian Lindell had a shot from 47 to put the Bills back ahead with just under a minute to play. In fact, I might argue that Dawson and Marshawn were the only people -- James Harrison too, actually -- that played a worthwhile game.
Continue Reading Browns 29, Bills 27: When You Throw Three First Quarter Picks, Can't Really Expect a Win

Phil Dawson Misses Late Field Goal as Redskins Hold Off Browns

Posted: Oct 19th 2008 7:03PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Redskins, AFC North, NFC East

8 COMMENTS

The Browns haven't been to Washington since 1991. Judging by what we saw at FedEx Field today, no one will be clamoring for a quick rematch.

The Redskins did beat the Browns 14-11 in a very bad offensive game. Both halves ended in missed field goals. Luckily for the Redskins, Phil Dawson missed his 54-yard attempt with :25 left and the Redskins slinked out with the win.

The first half was filled with nothing but dropped passes and punts. Cleveland didn't punt at all in their Monday night win over the New York Giants. The Browns punted on their first seven drives today. There were a total 16 punts between the two teams in this one as the first 14 possessions ended in 13 punts and one missed field goal.

The excitement came from Clinton Portis. On a day filled with awesome rushing numbers, the NFL's leading rusher pounded out 175 yards and the game's first touchdown. He also nearly gave the game away as his fumble deep in his own territory gave Cleveland just enough breath to mount a comeback.

Continue Reading Phil Dawson Misses Late Field Goal as Redskins Hold Off Browns

Browns Officially Give Up on 2008 Season, Quinn Replaces Woozy Anderson

Posted: Aug 18th 2008 9:15PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Giants, AFC North, NFC East

20 COMMENTS

We're not even halfway through tonight's Browns-Giants game and Cleveland fans are already looking forward to the 2009 season. With 8:48 left in the second half, the Browns are trailing the defending world champs 30-3. And, really, it hasn't even been that close.

After an opening drive that resulted in a Phil Dawson field goal, the Browns have looked like, well, the Browns anytime prior to last season. Since taking the 3-0 lead, Cleveland has given up three touchdowns in four New York possessions, had a punt blocked for a safety, and the subsequent kick resulted in another touchdown. Great start to '08

But it gets worse: starting quarterback Derek Anderson, looking more like the guy the Ravens put on the practice squad in 2005 than a Pro Bowler, was 4 of 10 for 20 yards before taking a vicious sack that promptly led to him leaving the game.

The Monday Night Football crew speculated that Anderson had suffered a concussion, but I'm guessing he was just tired of taking a beating. Either way, it's BRADY QUINN TIME! Which, shockingly, has been something of a letdown. Through two drives, he's 0 for 1 with -1 yards rushing.

Next stop: Super Bowl!

In less depressing news, Donte' Stallworth didn't maim Braylon Edwards tonight.

FanHouse NFL Season Preview: Cleveland Browns - How Good Is This Offense?

Posted: Aug 10th 2008 9:18PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Fans

7 COMMENTS
Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: A year ago at this time,Charlie Frye was the man. That lasted about 10 minutes into the Week 1 Steelers game before Derek Anderson came on in relief, and, well, you saw how things turned out. Anderson led Cleveland to 10 wins, and made the Pro Bowl, but faces pressure to exceed last year's surprising performance. I think he'll be fine, but if he falters, Brady Quinn will be eagerly awaiting his shot. Heat Index: 7

Running backs: Jamal Lewis was left for dead, at least in the professional sense, when the Ravens decided to "move in another direction" last offseason. Lewis signed a short-term deal with the Browns and proceeded to rush for more than 1,300 yards. He now has a new contract and will run behind one of the most underrated o-lines in the AFC. Heat Index: 7

Receivers: Prior to Donte' Stallworth putting out a hit on No. 1 wide receiver Braylon Edwards, these were some of the best pass-catchers in the conference. Actually, Edwards should be fine, and even with Joe Jurevicius on the mend, it's a talented group of big-play threats. And although he listed as a tight end on the depth chart, Kellen Winslow in No. 1A after Edwards. Heat Index: 9
Continue Reading FanHouse NFL Season Preview: Cleveland Browns - How Good Is This Offense?

I Have to Publish This? Sigh. Sometimes You Just Have to Say 'When in Rome ... '

Posted: Jul 31st 2008 1:00PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, Fantasy Football

0 COMMENTS
Staff rankings were compiled by averaging the individual rankings of each member of Fantasy Fanhouse. The rankings are based on standard leagues where you gain points for yardage and scores. Or something ...

You've seen my thoughts on using a kicker in fantasy football before -- and if you haven't, click on the link, please. Those of you that are sane will agree and take action. Those that insist on using kickers, well, we've got the information for you. Please don't mistake my distaste for the position to mean that I didn't do the research. Our staff did the work necessary on this position to bring you the best fantasy data possible. Hopefully you put it to good use in your free league on fleaflicker.

The FanHouse top five
1. Nate Kaeding, Chargers
2. Nick Folk, Cowboys
3. Mason Crosby, Packers
4. Shayne Graham, Bengals
5. Phil Dawson, Browns
Continue Reading I Have to Publish This? Sigh. Sometimes You Just Have to Say 'When in Rome ... '

Jamal Lewis Is Not Over the Hill

Posted: Dec 16th 2007 6:33PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, AFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Playoffs

3 COMMENTS
If this was 2006, or hell, any year prior to this one, the Browns would've found a way to lose to the Bills Sunday. Part of the reason Cleveland won their ninth game of the season had everything to do with thought-to-be-washed-up running back Jamal Lewis.

As FanHouser Dan Benton wrote earlier, the weather conditions, were ... well, awful. Visibility was about three feet, and the suddenly potent Browns passing game was equalized in the wind and driving snow. So what did offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski do? Pounded the rock with Lewis.

Smart guy, that Chudzinski. Lewis, who was thrown on the scrap heap last off-season by the Ravens, carried the ball 33 times for 163 yards, including eight that went for first downs.

Lewis' effort didn't set up any touchdowns because there weren't any scored -- just two Phil Dawson field goals and a safety -- but the former first-round pick helped the Browns control the clock, move the chains, and move into a tie for first place in the division (although the Steelers hold the tiebreaker).

And for Lewis, he's probably earned himself a nice little payday after a pretty solid 2007 season. Coming into the year, not many people -- me included --expected much from him. Shows what I know.

Phil Dawson Is One Sick, Sick Kicker

Posted: Dec 16th 2007 2:24PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Bills, Browns, AFC East, AFC North, Cleveland, Buffalo

0 COMMENTS

In the books, it will go down as a typical 49-yd FG. If you watched it, you saw a ball a Phil Dawson duck that found its pond.

The Browns' Dawson lined up for the kick in the middle of blizzard-like conditions against the Bills at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The snow is falling, well, every which way. He drove it way left ... but the wind carried it all the way back to the right. It ended up hitting the field goal stanchion and falling through for three points. Tiger Woods couldn't play the wind any better than that. From the hBrowns Game Blawg:

The Browns line up for a 48-yard field goal. Pooch punt coming? It would be remarkable if Phil Dawson could make a 48-yarder in these conditions.

Wow. The ball never got more than 12 yards off the ground but it got a nice push from the wind, hit the crossbar and fell over. Officially a 49-yarder. Anderson comes sprinting off the sideline to congratulate Dawson.

Remember, it was Dawson who kicked the most controversial field goal of the year when his game tying attempt as time expired against Baltimore hit the stanchion and fell back into the endzone. The attempt was first ruled failed ... then after some discussion it was ruled good.

What made this kick even better is that Gus Johnson is doing the game for CBS ... and ol' Gus can make any play sound like a walk-off home run in the World Series.

Head NFL Ref on Browns-Ravens: 'We Really Didn't Handle This How We Should Have'

Posted: Nov 22nd 2007 8:48AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Ravens, Cleveland, Baltimore

4 COMMENTS
In the four days since the Browns beat the Ravens in overtime on Sunday, this crazy Phil Dawson field goal at the end of the fourth quarter that was initially ruled no good, and then ruled good, has been the talk of the league:

Now the league's head of officiating, Mike Pereira, is weighing in, on a video you can watch at NFL.com. "Mechanically, we really didn't handle this how we should have," Pereira said.

According to Pereira, the field judge should have either signaled the kick good or, if he didn't see it properly, conferred with his fellow officials. Instead he signaled no good, incorrectly.

After that, the referee could be seen putting on a headset to talk to the person in the replay booth upstairs, although the league says the referee didn't actually review the replay.

Ultimately, the officials got the call right: Dawson's kick was ruled good because it was good. But the NFL acknowledges that they got it right the wrong way.

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