(Editor's note: This is the first of what we hope will be a daily column.
While at first it will be simply links—with an OBR twist and flava--to news
stories associated with the Browns and other AFC North teams, we will
eventually be branching out into original material ala the NFLtalk
Rumor Mill and the old BTNG Sunday Morning Massacre.
Of course, the usual smarminess and snarkiness that has been associated with
the above two mentioned columns will continue in liberal/heavy doses.)
--Given the paucity of news at this time of the year, the Canton
Repository's Steve Doerschuk revisits the letting go of
one-game legend and icon Kelly Holcomb and how his departure may or
may not have impacted the 2005 version of the Cleveland Browns.
As Doerschuk ever-so-deftly points out,
Holcomb had a better season,
numbers-wise, than Trent Dilfer, but Dilfer may have been the better
choice to mentor and further the advancement of young Charlie Frye.
--In a completely unrelated story, a veteran Stark County sportswriter is
under investigation for animal cruelty and abuse of a corpse. As one police
insider told us, “In layman's terms, he's being looked at for `beating a
dead horse'.”
--For the better part of the eight years since the Browns returned to the
NFL, there has been a constant and incessant cry (wail?) amongst fans on
message boards and sports talk shows:
"Bring Bernie Kosar back."
While The Triumvirate of Lerner, Policy and Policy's Hair tossed Cleveland
icon aside shortly after the “new” franchise was acquired, there have been
signs that the new regime was open to Kosar returning to the organization in
one capacity or another. Kosar's stint on a 2005 preseason telecast added
further fuel to the speculation fire.
Now, according to the
Miami Herald, Kosar has
“rejected overtures” to become part of the Browns front office. No specifics
were given as to what the front office duties would have entailed or why
Kosar turned down the offer/overture.
--It's no secret that the Browns are lukewarm in their interest in retaining
free-agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Whether this is all a part
of the free-agent game—or the Browns are indeed willing to toss aside a
thousand-yard receiver—remains to be seen.
One team, according to the
Dayton Daily News, that will
apparently have an interest in Bryant if he does indeed hit the open market
is southern neighbor and AFC North rival Cincinnati.
This rumor comes on the heels of other stories and innuendo that have Bryant
joining the Steelers upon the start of free agency.
(An attempt was made to reach Bryant for comment on his future but, after
answering, the WR proceeded to drop the phone several times before shouting
a string of expletives and hanging up.)
(The above was in no way, shape or form true, just merely an attempt to show
that Bryant has the receiving skills oft-times associated with a
quadriplegic or one born without hands.)
The article went on to mention that Cincinnati may have an interest in
soon-to-be free-agent tight end Aaron Shea, and that the Browns could
have some competition for LB Will Witherspoon in the form of the
Bengals.
--A belated “Happy Birthday” to Browns legend and Hall of Famer Jim Brown,
who recently turned 70 years young. God bless you for all of the great,
great memories, Mr. Brown.
(As an aside, there is no truth to the Internet-generated rumor that Brown
celebrated this milestone by throwing three parties and two women.)
EDITOR'S NOTE II: The management of TheOBR.com would like to point out
that each remark you find humorous has been done with the full approval and
knowledge of the publisher. Anything you find offensive is the reckless act of
the writer, has been done without approval and will result in as-yet-unspecified
(but undoubtedly severe) reprimands.