Crimson streak;1489563 wrote:I got a bet with my buddy that's a steelers fan that Cleveland has a better record than the steelers. He kept mentioning 6 Super Bowl titles lol go figure, that has so much to do with this season lmao. He said that weeden will suck bc he doesn't have a good tight end. I just told him to wait and see lol

Their (Yinzers) assumption is that things will always be the "status quo." "We have a bad year, it's a hiccup, and we'll bounce back."

ALL franchises, at some point, have a "down" period.

Colbert & Company had some really good drafts prior to 2009. Now he's brought in just a bunch of "guys", no real "impact" studs that are game changers like Polamalu & Harrison (UDFA) since then. One is gone, the other has lost a step and can't stay healthy, and they haven't drafted anyone of the same caliber to replace them. I'd even go as far as to say the Browns have drafted better (minus the Mangini years) and have caught up, talentwise (draft versus draft).

It's also assumed that "the Browns have sucked since 1999, it'll ALWAYS be that way." Not the case. They now have a solid front office and perhaps some of the best assistant coaches in the league who will get the most from these guys.

Not to mention that the Browns roster is young and should be peaking.

I like the near future for BOTH Browns & Bengals fans. Steelers & Ravens, not so much.

I think the Bengals will have an 8-8 type year. Marvin never really does well when they're expected to be the best in the division.

Still think the Ravens are the class of the division.

SportsAndLady;1489800 wrote:I think the Bengals will have an 8-8 type year. Marvin never really does well when they're expected to be the best in the division.

Still think the Ravens are the class of the division.

I am just not sold on Dalton. Honestly I think the division overall is weak. The Ravens were the worst team to win a SB since, well the last time the Ravens won the SB lol. If the AFC as a whole wasn't down, I would say the AFC North is the weakest division, but all the other divisions in the AFC can make that claim as well.

If the AFC North is weak, then the AFC South and AFC West is horrible.

Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland are all around the level of the Browns.
Tennessee and Jacksonville are similar, and it's hard to justify Indianapolis and Houston being better than Cincy, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Maybe the whole AFC stinks...which again, makes it easier for the North teams, who have sent multiple teams to the playoffs like what, 9 straight years?

Azubuike24;1489817 wrote:Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland are all around the level of the Browns.

In what way? KC is definitely better. San Diego still has a good QB. Not really sure how Oakland is looking. The Browns are going to be an improved team, is that what you mean?

Azubuike24;1489817 wrote:it's hard to justify Indianapolis and Houston being better than Cincy, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Not at all. I'll take Indy and Houston over all 3 of those teams, besides maybe Baltimore. Indy was 10-6 last year with a rookie QB. They're only going to get better. Houston still has crazy good weapons and a nasty defense.

Oakland is NOT "around the level of the Browns." Oakland & Jax are in the discussion for the two worst teams in football. Cleveland won't be anywhere near that conversation this year.

I don't know about Indy because I want to see last season become a "trend" for them but Houston is better than Cincy, Pittsburgh AND Baltimore.

Azubuike24;1489817 wrote:If the AFC North is weak, then the AFC South and AFC West is horrible.

Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland are all around the level of the Browns.
Tennessee and Jacksonville are similar, and it's hard to justify Indianapolis and Houston being better than Cincy, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Maybe the whole AFC stinks...which again, makes it easier for the North teams, who have sent multiple teams to the playoffs like what, 9 straight years?

Did you not see the part where I said the whole AFC is down? I am really not impressed with the conference all together.

like_that;1489825 wrote:Did you not see the part where I said the whole AFC is down? I am really not impressed with the conference all together.

Yeah, the AFC East, outside of the Patriots (usually), is really nothing to get excited about either.

BR1986FB;1489826 wrote:Yeah, the AFC East, outside of the Patriots (usually), is really nothing to get excited about either.

It still is that way. I am not buying into the Dolphins hype at all.

SportsAndLady;1489820 wrote:
Not at all. I'll take Indy and Houston over all 3 of those teams, besides maybe Baltimore. Indy was 10-6 last year with a rookie QB. They're only going to get better. Houston still has crazy good weapons and a nasty defense.

Indy was actually 11-5.

Laley23;1489893 wrote:Indy was actually 11-5.

Cake schedule.

Commander of Awesome;1489938 wrote:Cake schedule.

Agreed

This is for COA. I couldn't find a picture of Veikune....

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtc0hGlWk9l1Z0-0v6kLojjNlWOpocBsCZLn4io6uuE_Jt28Ff

Commander of Awesome;1489938 wrote:Cake schedule.

BR1986FB;1489961 wrote:Agreed

100% agreed. Just pointing out it wasnt 10-6.

In fact, based on number along, Indy shouldve been at best .500 imo. But I wasnt complaining!!

Luck was definitely the difference though. GB and Detroit alone shouldve been losses, but Luck managed to play great down the stretch to pull out wins. Im hoping he is even better in his 2nd year and the INTs go down by 5+

I'd kill to be in a division where we got to play the Jags & Tits 4x's in a season. There would've been a lot more 7-9's or 8-8's versus 4-12's over the last few years.

BR1986FB;1489978 wrote:I'd kill to be in a division where we got to play the Jags & Tits 4x's in a season. There would've been a lot more 7-9's or 8-8's versus 4-12's over the last few years.

No doubt! There'd be more 10-6 seasons like '07 with our "pro-bowler" DA!

Let's be honest here, we haven't been much better than the Raiders, Jags, and teams of that sort over the last few years. We've had an ok defense and a complete SHIT offense for a while now. This SHOULD all change this year but we shouldn't act like they've actually been an average team over the last 4 years.

BR1986FB;1489978 wrote:I'd kill to be in a division where we got to play the Jags & Tits 4x's in a season. There would've been a lot more 7-9's or 8-8's versus 4-12's over the last few years.

Crazy how quick it changes. Titans and Jags were right with the Colts for awhile fighting for playoffs (and making). Now those 2 teams suck.

Although, they did lose to Jax and beat Minny, GB and Houston last year.

Laley23;1489988 wrote:Crazy how quick it changes. Titans and Jags were right with the Colts for awhile fighting for playoffs (and making). Now those 2 teams suck.

Although, they did lose to Jax and beat Minny, GB and Houston last year.

I agree on your comments about TN & JAX. Once McNair & Garrard left, they've pretty much sucked. Goes to show you how far solid QB play will take you.

BR1986FB;1489978 wrote:I'd kill to be in a division where we got to play the Jags & Tits 4x's in a season. There would've been a lot more 7-9's or 8-8's versus 4-12's over the last few years.

All that would mean is worse draft picks. I'd take 4-12 over 7-9

BEREA, Ohio -- Barkevious Mingo's bruised lung could keep him out of football for months, considering he was spitting up blood and doesn't recall a sharp blow to the chest, two thoracic surgeons told cleveland.com Wednesday.

What's more, when the bruise heals, the Browns' rookie linebacker will likely have to undergo a battery of tests to rule out a more serious condition.

"The fact that he's spitting up blood means it's not a minor contusion,'' Dr. Philip A. Linden, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, said. Linden has not treated Mingo.

"There's something significant going on there.''

Linden said a bruised lung can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to heal, depending on the severity of the contusion.

"Two weeks might not apply in this case because of the coughing up blood,'' he said. "The most common situation we see with lung contusions is after a motor vehicle accident, where there are broken ribs. Even then, coughing up blood is unusual.''

Linden said it's unusual because bruises usually occur at the edges of the lungs and "to cough up blood, it's usually something more central going on.''

Dr. Clark Fuller, Director of Thoracic Surgery at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., said he wouldn't plan on Mingo being ready for the opener Sept. 8 against the Dolphins. He agreed that the issue could -- and probably should -- take months to resolve.

Last week, Fuller said he'd keep Mingo sidelined for at least two to three weeks -- but that was before Mingo revealed the blood.

"The opener is in jeopardy -- and it should be,'' said Fuller. "You've got to make sure this isn't a warning flag for something more serious. Spitting up blood and being short of breath shows you how severe it was, and there's no apparent reason for it.''

Both surgeons are puzzled as to how Mingo was injured lung without a sharp blow to the chest.

"A pulmonary contusion would be very unusual without significant force, such as the force that you would have with a bad motor vehicle accident on the chest wall,'' said Linden.
So what would explain Mingo's injury?

"I don't have an explanation for that,'' Linden said.

Mingo experienced shortness of breath after covering the opening kickoff of Thursday's 24-6 victory over the Lions, but re-iterated Wednesday that he did not take a helmet to the chest. As the first quarter wore on, he found it increasingly difficult to breathe, and had blood in his mouth. He alerted the training staff, who quickly took him to the Cleveland Clinic Hospital, where they diagnosed the injury.

On Tuesday, coach Rob Chudzinski said of Mingo's estimated date of return, "basically, the bottom line with KeKe is nobody really knows.''

On Wednesday in the locker room, Mingo insisted he felt fine in camp until that first play against the Lions, suggesting the cause of his injury didn't happen in the preseason opener against the Rams or in practice.

"It happened in the (Lions) game,'' he said.

Linden said another cause for spitting up blood is a clot in the lung that can mimic a contusion, "but I assume they've done the tests to rule that out.''

Browns right guard Jason Pinkston suffered a blood clot in his lung last season. He missed the final 10 games and remained out of football activities for six months while on blood thinners.

Fuller said he'd also want to rule out a congenital condition, such as an arteriovenous malformation, or nodule on the lung, which can rupture and be very serious.

"You need to know why this young man bled,'' he said. "Otherwise there's a huge risk out there and it could happen again."

He said the fact it occurred after a 30- or 40-yard sprint is significant. "It could be something he was born with, or maybe he tore something in his lung,'' he said. "But exertion triggered this thing, and right now an investment in a couple of weeks is small change compared to this young man's life.''

Fuller stressed that the lack of an obvious trauma to the chest is the biggest reason to exercise caution. He said that in the case of Chargers receiver Eddie Royal, who suffered a bruised lung in practice last Friday, he came down hard on his back and also suffered a concussion.

"That was one plus one equals two,'' Fuller said. "Here, we've got one plus one equals we're not sure. It's really difficult to put together, and quite honestly it's a little frightening because we don't have a good reason why he started bleeding inside his lung. I think it really needs to be fleshed out before this guys goes back out onto the field.''

Mingo said Wednesday that he's felt great since since spending Thursday night at the Clinic and that his breathing is fine. But his doctors -- who saw him again on Tuesday -- aren't letting him run yet. During practice, he's getting tips from fellow linemen, including left tackle Joe Thomas.

"I'm good,'' he said. "I can always take this time to get the mental reps and go out there at practice and watch the guys do it the right way and in the meeting room get the corrections and whatever it may be to get better."

But Fuller cautioned that he wouldn't rely on Mingo's reports of how he feels and his eagerness to play.

"Him feeling well has zero input into the management of his case,'' said Fuller. "The least important thing to me is how he feels. These things are a big deal, and it needs careful investigation to make sure nothing will raise its ugly head in the future.''



"KeKe?" Really?

Great...

for what its worth OBR says UP to a 4 weeks for Mingo being out, not "months" as the cleveland.com is saying. Not sure which is right but I'm hoping it's OBR.

Commander of Awesome;1490028 wrote:for what its worth OBR says UP to a 4 weeks for Mingo being out, not "months" as the cleveland.com is saying. Not sure which is right but I'm hoping it's OBR.

While I certainly want him back on the field, I want him to be back on the field completely healthy. I hope they figure out the cause of this thing so that we can get him back out there at 100%

I'm not going to say you guys are wrong, it's just a strange stance to take and say "the whole AFC is down" when they just won the Super Bowl.

Also, "down" is a relative term. 6 teams from each league make the playoffs, so it doesn't matter if the bottom 6 of the 12 playoffs teams are AFC teams, it's going to come down to an NFC vs AFC Super Bowl and winner take all.

As for Houston, I have the complete opposite stance. If you question Andy Dalton, how do you not question Matt Schaub? What has he ever done? They also don't have a "nasty offense." Their offense has some talent, but it's certainly not even in the top 5, let alone considered nasty. Hard not to question Johnson, Foster and Daniels in-terms of durability either.

Indy, while they had a great year last and certainly have a bright future, to assume they will end up "improved" is foolish. I'd bet they don't even win 10, let alone improve. They might be a better team, but on-field success may not show it.

Let me also say that I think Baltimore clearly falls, Pittsburgh is around the same (or slightly better) while the Bengals and Browns have the best potential in the North to exceed what they did a year ago.