In case you didn't hear, life-long Browns fan, Rob Stipe was ejected from his seat in the Dawg Pound, at Cleveland Browns Stadium, for standing! Yes, people complained that he was standing too much...

Crap like this started when the Browns came back and the new stadium was build...Some one decided that this should be some kind sunshine and lollipops, family friendly place...Seriously, it's a football stadium...But worse than that, is Stipe, like many others pays a lot of money for his seats...Let's remember, fans like Stipe had to pay for a Personal Seat License, which gave him the right to then buy his season tickets...Never-mind that most of these people had been season ticket holders for a long time...(Stipe has been a season ticket holder for 25 years)...So for the Browns and their security to toss any one out for simply being a fan is ridiculous...

It wasn't like he was chucking bottles and punching people in the face...He was standing! This is what happened...Stipe, was told by security to sit during the first quarter of Sunday's game when he was standing during a third down play...Then later on in the game, he was standing again and was asked to leave his seat...This due to a new rule that immediately kicks out second-offenders...

I am completely disgusted to be a Browns fan right now!

Back in the good old days...In the original Dawg Pound, everyone stood...They stood for the whole game, and they yelled at those who didn't stand, 'to get the fuck up!' I had the privilege to sit in the original Dawg Pound once...That's the place where fans threw snow balls at Boomer Esiason...Dog biscuits where thrown at stupid Mark Malone! You can't imagine the shit that was said about Elway's mother there...There was a guy dressed like Santa, only wearing orange instead of red...I saw him beating the shit out of a Steeler fan who came by to talk shit...

I'm not saying all of that is good...Hell, I'll be the first to say that a lot of those Dawg Pound people are not only nuts, but many are assholes...But shit, at least they are involved in the game...At least they cheer, and care about what happens...But now, they have some uptight assholes telling them they can't even stand...Christ, at high school games we stood the entire time...What the hell has happened to Cleveland!?!

Over and over again, people try to say what great fans Cleveland has...How Clevelanders are some of the best sports fans around...NO...It does have some great fans, but as a whole, most Cleveland sports fans are idiots...If you bitch about a die hard fans standing, you're an idiot, and you should be the one thrown out!

I hate the new Browns stadium...I've been there for 5 games, and I won't go back...I hate the design...I hate the vibe...The prices are insane...It doesn't feel like a football stadium...I miss the beer stained concrete, and dark walkways of the old Municipal Stadium...I miss feeling that every fan in the place was in this shit together...The times have changed, but they haven't changed for the better...

Later, The Beeze.

  That's right Tebow...ESPN has a new golden boy, and his name is Tony Romo...After Monday night's game, suddenly Tony Romo can do no wrong...Every Mike, Mike, Scott, Chris, Linda, and everyone else at ESPN is swinging on Romo's nuts...

Yes, Romo played with his cracked-up ribs, and banged up lung...He we all up in everyones' shit on the sidelines, looking like Johnny Leader...Dez Bryant even said he only played because Romo was going out there banged up...Suddenly Romo is the ultimate man!

Really, last I checked he still had his pinkie, and Ronnie Lott has his lopped off and went back in the game! Okay, I'm not trying to shit on Romo...Guy played well, while in plenty of pain...Yeah, it's nice to see a quarterback act like the rest of the guys in the league...But it is the amount of ball licking done by ESPN and other talking heads that makes me sick...

But enough about me...How the hell do you think Tim Tebow feels...Not only is he not a starting quarterback, but now this week no one is talking about him not being a starting quarterback...Tim you better get hurt at practice and then show up Sunday ready to hold that clip board all day...Shit, this is Tebow we're talking about...He better die, and rise from the dead...Then maybe ESPN will be back on his ball-bag and forget about Romo.

Later, The Beeze.

Don't You Forget About Me

Tim Hightower rebounded from a mediocre first week as a Redskin to explode against the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, last week. He ran for 96 yards on 20 carries, most of which happened in the first half of the Redskins 22-21 victory.

His backup, rookie Roy Helu, piled up an additional 74 yards on just 10 attempts. Yet both did not get many touches in the second half as offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan seemed to call for a pass every down. Though Washington eked out a win, Shanahan's disregard for the effective running game hearkened back to 2010.

If was the first year he and his dad held jobs in the organization. There were quite a few games the team lost, like the their match up with the Indianapolis Colts, where he got obsessed with calling pass plays and it cost his team in the end.

The Dallas Cowboys have been stout at stopping the run for several years, so most teams have been attacking their dinged up secondary. Yet their offense relies on the pass so much, it could mean their defense spends much more time on the gridiron.

If this happens, then an effective run game will be needed even more. Especially in the fourth quarter, where most overworked defenses begin to tire. Hightower and Helu will need carries all game, not just a portion of it. The old adage that a good ground game gives the offense more options will certainly come into play if Shanahan decides to opt for a better offensive balance.
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No Mercy

Not only are two of the Cowboys best cornerbacks dealing with injury issues already, a third will not play at all because of an ankle problem. This could benefit Washington when quarterback Rex Grossman looks to pass.

Orlando Scandrick is out and his replacement, veteran Terence Newman, is playing in his first game this year because of a nagging groin injury. Grossman will probably test that groin a lot, as well as nickle back Alan Ball. The Redskins currently have the ninth best passing attack in the NFL, and four different wide receivers have receptions.

Santana Moss may be the best receiver Washington has, but Mike Jenkins may shadow him. Jenkins, who has a sore shoulder, is the best cornerback Dallas has right now. This means Anthony Armstrong and Jabar Gaffney will need to beat Newman and Ball.

Tight end Fred Davis has been amazing since coming into training camp in better shape. He is averaging a healthy 17.4 yards on 11 receptions, so Washington was afforded to let Chris Cooley fully recuperate from a knee injury. Cooley is now back, so he gives the Redskins another weapon.

Washington has had some early successes in the pass same this season, so this is a game to keep the momentum going. If Newman is still hobbled, it will draw safety help and give Davis or Cooley more chances to gouge Dallas for big chucks of yards after the catch.





No Miles To Run

Miles Davis is the best Cowboys receiver. He leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this year. He has been vital to an offense with an inept ground game. Dallas averaged barely over two yards per attempt this season, and starting halfback Felix Jones is dealing with a shoulder issue.

The other starting wide receiver, Dez Bryant, has a thigh injury that has limited him to one game so far. This has made Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rely heavily on Miles and Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. Witten's 13 catches is one less than Davis.

If Bryant is still too hurt to be his usual dynamic self, this helps the Redskins because they have a few injuries in their defensive secondary. Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall are not at full health, but are expected to play. Strong safety LaRon Landry has yet to play this season, because of a hurt hamstring, and his is listed as questionable.

His replacement, Reed Doughty, is good against the run but mediocre versus the pass. Romo, now having to lean on Witten, will go after Doughty in a number of attempts that will exceed double digits. Even if Doughty is assigned to reserve tight ends Martellus Bennett and John Phillips, Romo will look to pick on him much like Eli Manning did two weeks ago.

If Dallas has wide receivers like Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holly as their weapons, perhaps free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe can focus on Witten and give Romo a harder time. Since Romo is already dealing with broken ribs, the secondary shutting down the Cowboys passing attack will leave the quarterback more available to being hit by Washington's pass rushers.





Kicks Count

Dallas has two placekickers on their 2011 roster. One, rookie Dan Bailey, handles all of the short kicks. The other, David Buehler, is injured in the groin of his kicking leg and will try to play. Washington's diminutive return specialist Brandon Banks may get a shot a returning kickoffs if Buehler's injury shortens his kickoffs.

Considering Dallas may have the best punter in the NFL in Mat McBriar, it was unlikely Banks would get many opportunities whenever the Washington defense forced McBriar on the field. It will also be an uneasy situation for Dallas if Baily has to attempt anything longer than 50 yards, though Bailey did hit a critical 48-yard attempt last week.

Redskins kicker Graham Gano has yet to make a kick over 34 yards. He has missed twice already on attempts between 30 and 39 yards. If Washington struggles to get in the red zone against Dallas, they will have to rely on a player who has eight of his 13 career misses come from distances of 30 yards or more.




Remembering A Rivalry

Rivalries in the NFL today are harder to maintain because of free agency. Teams are no longer able to maintain the bulk of their roster like in the past, where they would develop their players and a stronger bond of unity would be an outcome.

Redskins Hall of Fame head coach George Allen taught his team to dislike the Cowboys, and the teams passionate fans followed suit. This came from the fact both Washington and Dallas dominated their conference when Allen joined the franchise in 1971.

The Redskins made the playoffs in five of Allen's first six seasons, which included a Super Bowl appearance. Dallas had made the postseason every season but two times between 1966 and 1985. They were the class of the NFC usually, once earning the nickname "America's Team."

Allen knew his team had to beat Dallas to achieve success, no small task with Hall of Famer Tom Landry as the head coach of the Cowboys. The 60 wins the Cowboys have in their meeting, out of 100 contests, is the most over any other NFL franchise. Washington, however, has beat them in both playoff games they met in.

Landry beat Allen eight times in the 15 games he faced Allen, but the Redskins great beat him in their only playoff game. That victory, a 26-3 drubbing, propelled Washington into their first ever Super Bowl and first NFL title game in 28 years.

Dallas took command in this series since the second game of the 1997 season. Washington has won just seven times in the last 27 meetings. The 2005 season has been the only time the Redskins won both games over that time.

Yet fans of both teams will admit the unpredictable often happens when these franchises battle. Good examples are the 1989 season, where the Cowboys lone victory that year came at the expense of the Redskins, and the 1991 season.

Washington had stormed out of the gates at an 11-0 record when Dallas came to town that year. After losing by three points, Washington's run at perfection ended. They rested their main players in the final game, giving them their only other defeat. Had they has beat Dallas, they stood a better chance of matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins for a truly perfect season.

Maybe the history of these franchises escapes most of those involved with both teams today, but the Redskins have legacy to remind. General manager Bruce Allen is the son of the Hall of Fame Redskins coach, so he certainly knows how important it is to beat Dallas. The Cowboys head coach is Jason Garrett, who was a backup quarterback with Dallas for eight years. He also understands this rivalry.

The Redskins are currently undefeated and alone on top of the NFC East. A loss here drops them into a tie with Dallas and the New York Giants. Washington already beat New York, so a victory over Dallas would give them two big wins within their own division, which is important at times when the playoffs approach. These two wins could give them enough in the percentage points department if there is a tie-breaker.

There may not be as much venom between these squads compared to the past, but there will be no love lost. With Hall adding fuel to the fire by being recorded by cameras saying he will try to tackle the injured Romo and Jones hard, players will come in fired up as the ghosts of legends egg them on to greatness.  

Week 3 NFL

It was a solid week 2, 11 wins with few real surprises or annoyances beyond the Ravens playing dead duck on the road in Nashville. Please find this weeks picks for your perusal and review. Odds are provided by bodog.net via USA Today for entertainment and comparison purposes only, that means you are on your own with no-neck Vinnie if you bet the lines and lose.

Sunday September 25

Patriots (2-0) @ Bills (10-6)

Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)

Favorite Patriots by 9

Last Week: Patriots beat Chargers 35-21; Bills beat Raiders 38-35

Fast Fact Patriots QB Tom Brady is 17-1 against the Bills

The Bills have raised a few eyebrows with their strong offensive start, and hopes in Western New York are high. The problem is the that the Pats are the team at the top and show no inclination of stepping aside. Tom Brady is playing out of his mind and one would think that he is showing that reports of his demise are greatly exaggerated. Im expecting the scoreboard to get a work out and a battle between two high scoring teams, I think however the Bills are not really ready for primetime just yet as Brady and company have too many weapons.

Pick-New England

Jaguars (1-1) @ Panthers (0-2)

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)

Favorite Panthers by 4

Last Week Jaguars lost to Jets 32-3, Panthers lost to Packers

Fast Fact This is the fifth meeting between the two 1995 expansion teams, the Jags have won three of the four previous meetings

Both teams top QB draft picks will be showcased here as the Panthers Cam Newton continues to impress with another big yardage day albeit tempered by three picks in a loss to the Pack. The Jags grew quickly frustrated with the ineffective play of Luke McCown and are handing the reins to Blaine “Gabby” Gabbert who came along a little quicker than the Jags were expecting him to. Both teams are not very good, but for some reason I see Newton breaking his Panthers through and while Gabbert will likely be a solid pro his first start wont be a win.

Pick-Carolina

49ers (1-1) @ Bengals (1-1)

Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)

Favorite Bengals by 3

Last Week 49ers lost to Cowboys 27-24 (ot); Bengals lost to Broncos 24-22

Fast Fact The 49ers have lost their last two trips to Cincinnati after having won in their first three visits.

The Bengals host an uneven Niners team in their home opener. After having tripped the Browns and playing the Broncos tough at home, they are feeling like this season wouldn’t be the death march some predicted. The Niners can score but their defense can fall asleep at the switch. Rookies Andy Dalton and AJ Green (no relation) are showing a lot of promise something Niners QB Alex Smith has yet to fulfill. Something tells me I shouldn’t but the west coast team coming east theory works more often than you would think. Back in the day, you knew the Niners would punk the Bengals now its not a gimme. I think the Bengals young core finds a way to steal it and though most of the players on this Bengals weren’t even born the last time these teams played for Super stakes give the franchise a slight bit of payback.

Pick-Cincinnati

Dolphins (0-2) @ Browns (1-1)

Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)

Favorite Browns by 3

Last Week Browns beat Colts 29-17, Dolphins lost to Texans 23-13

Fast Fact The Browns have won the last three meetings to even the overall series at 7 wins apiece

The Browns relished a chance to play the bully, romping over a helpless Colts team while the Dolphins got smacked around at home. The Browns are a hard team to figure. Which team will show up? The team that looked rugged in dominating all phases of the game last week or the team that looked roughshod and a bit confused in a winnable home opener. The Dolphins are a straight mess and Tony Sparano is already on the hot seat. For some reason, I see the Browns trying to make up for the debacle that was their home opener.

Pick-Cleveland

Lions (2-0) @ Vikings (0-2)

Venue, City Time (CBS,FOX, ESPN, NBC)

Favorite Lions by 4

Last Week Lions beat Chiefs 48-3, Vikings lost to Bucs 24-20

Fast Fact The Lions have not won in Minnesota since 1993.

The Lions took the Chiefs out back of the woodshed last week and beat them mercilessly in front of a near delirious crowd in their home opener. The Vikings again blew a double digit halftime lead and suffered another late game collapse in their home opener. Matthew Stafford is the real deal, folks and he has a bevy of offensive weapons at his disposal. On the other hand, besides Adrian Peterson the Vikes have few reliable go to guys on offense and are left to wonder has Donovan McNabb fell that far off or what? This is one that I hope and pray that Im wrong but there is one team that looks like its ready to win.

Pick-Detroit

Texans (2-0) @ Saints (1-1)

Venue, City Time (CBS)

Favorite Saints  by 3½

Last Week Texans beat Dolphins 23-13, Saints beat Bears 30-13

Fast Fact Though these teams are relatively close geographically this is only their third ever meeting.

If ever there was a time and place for the Texans to open some eyes and turn heads its this game. Many naysayers have poo-poohed their 2-0 start beating a weakened Colts and a Dolphins team that cant win at home impressed few, but beating a top notch Saints team in their own crib would be a feat in itself. The Saints shook off their opening night shootout loss to thump the Bears. If Arian Fosters hammy is still hurting it will put a serious crimp in the Texans ball control plans, that’s what it would take to slow down a machine gun like offense that is the Saints. Everytime I think “This is where the Texans finally make that step, they fall on their face.” They’ll of course make a liar out of me when I pick against them.

Pick-New Orleans

Giants @ Eagles (1-1)

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (FOX)

Favorite Eagles by 8

Last Week Giants beat Rams 28-16, Eagles lost to Falcons 35-31

Fast Fact The Eagles have won the last six meetings, its longest win streak over the Giants since winning 12 in a row from 1975-81.

Eagles fans are breathing a sigh of relief as Michael Vick was cleared to play after taking a nasty hit last Sunday and leaving the game with a concussion and spitting blood. The G-Men slogged not slugged their way to a sloppy win over the sorry Rams and have the NFL annoyed at them with their “on field injuries” With the Eagles in better shape on both sides of the ball, I like them to put a tight win out at home against a bitter divisional rival.

Pick-Philadelphia

Broncos (1-1) @ Titans (1-1)

LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)

Favorite Titans by 7

Last Week Broncos defeated Bengals 24-22, Titans beat Ravens 26-13

Fast Fact This is the Titans third attempt to get their first win over the Broncos in Nashville

The Broncos tried their best to give another home game away, but hung on. The Titans stunned many by thumping the Ravens despite the lack of contribution by Chris Johnson. This is a tough game to call because both teams are still trying to find themselves. I will bet that Matt Hasselbeck will continue to play good enough to keep the Titans in the game and Johnson is way overdue for a breakout game, the Broncos soft run defense might just be the kickstart he needs

Pick-Tennessee

NY Jets (2-0) @ Raiders (1-1)

Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland 4:05  (CBS)

Favorite Jets by 3½

Last Week Jets defeated Jaguars 32-3, Raiders lost to Bills 38-35

Fast Fact The Jets have started 2-0 for the fifth straight year

An old school AFL matchup is the first of the late games, the Jets are brimming with confidence after a pair of home wins, while the Raiders split their opening road games with a field goal margin in both games. I have a hard time believing that the Raiders are anything more than a middle of the road team. The Jets are the better team on both sides of the ball and have been handling playing the favorite well. I see no real reason to see why they cant pull a road win out.

Pick-New York Jets

Ravens (1-1) @ Rams (0-2)

Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 4:05  (CBS)

Favorite Ravens by 3½

Last Week Ravens lost to Titans 26-13, Rams lost to Giants 28-16

Fast Fact The two teams have split their four meetings, each team winning at home twice.

Pity the poor Rams, they always seem to catch a team at the exact wrong time. They lead off against the Eagles who wanted to get off to a high-flying start, they then faced a sullen Giants team who wanted to erase the bad memory of a bad loss and now they get an angry Ravens team that came out flat and got manhandled by the Titans. The Rams are a good young team and their high speed offense hearkens back to the old days where the Rams could light up a scoreboard. But they are still young and learning. To ask them to face a tough Ravens defense that is hell bent to take it out on someone and put points up is asking too much.

Pick-Baltimore

Chiefs (0-2) @ Chargers (1-1)

Quallcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:05 (CBS)

Favorite Chargers by 15

Last Week Chiefs lost the Lions 48-3, Chargers lost to Patriots 35-21

Fast Fact The Chiefs have given up 89 points in the seasons first two weeks, a dubious NFL record.

The Chargers stood toe to toe with the high powered Pats offense but ran out of steam late, they return home to get well against a Chiefs team that cant score and let other teams move the ball at will. The Chargers have a better offense than either the Bills or Lions, they might just call the mercy rule here.

Pick-San Diego (Lock of the Week)

Packers (2-0) @ Bears (1-1)

Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (FOX)

Favorite Packers by 4

Last Week Packers beat the Panthers, Bears lost to the Saints 30-13

Fast Fact The Bears have allowed a league high 11 sacks this season

This is another old-school rivalry at its finest. The Packers took a few punches from a gutsy Panthers team but methodically wore them down. They will take on the Bears without defensive stalwart Nick Collins who suffered a frightening neck injury last week. The Bears got slapped around in the Big Easy and have returned to their maddeningly inconsistent ways. Everything says that the Packers are the better team and should win convincingly…so why does this look like an upset in the making?

Pick-Chicago (Upset of the Week)

Cardinals (1-1) @ Seahawks (0-2)

Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)

Favorite Cardinals by 3½

Last Week Cardinals lost to the Redskins 22-21, Seahawks lost to the Steelers 24-0

Fast Fact The Seahawks have yet to score in the first half, getting outscored 33-0 in their first two games.

Hard to tell which way either of these teams are going, if they pay anywhere except the west coast they take a beating. Though the Cards slugged it out with the Skins and lost a tight one. I think the Cards are the much better team and the Seahawks are already having buyers remorse about Tarvaris Jackson at QB. The Vikings are giggling to themselves that the Seahawks bet their future on him.

Pick-Arizona

Falcons (1-1) @ Buccaneers (1-1)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 4:15 (FOX)

Favorite Buccaneers by 1

Last Week Falcons beat the Eagles 35-31, Buccaneers beat Vikings 24-20

Fast Fact The Falcons have won the last five meetings

The Falcons were all but left for dead as late as the 3^rdquarter of the Sunday night game, but instead they knocked Mike Vick out of the game and proceeded to slug their way to a win. The Bucs were down 17-0 on the road in a venue that they have never fared well in yet clobbered their way to a late rally for the win. The question will be now which team will show up. I like the Bucs at home though Im seriously wary of the Falcons and their offense.

Pick-Tampa Bay

Steelers (1-1) @ Colts (0-2)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis 8:20 (NBC)

Favorite Steelers by 11

Last Week Steelers beat the Seahawks 24-0, Colts lost to the Browns 29-17

Fast Fact This is the Colts first 0-2 start since 1998

You thought the Seahawks were crying last week, the Colts are screaming crush before the game kicks off. Don’t you think that NBC wishes that they could flex into the best matchup every week and not the last six weeks. You can be sure that they would flex out of this obvious mismatch. The Colts offense is mind numbingly stagnant without Peyton Manning and their defense never good to begin with has been shockingly exposed as worse than ever. Look for the Steelers to pound the Colts with no mercy and the faith of the proud Colts fans to be sorely tested. This might be another game where the mercy rule might be on standby

Pick-Pittsburgh

Monday, September 26

Redskins (2-0) @ Cowboys (1-1)

Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX  (ESPN)

Favorite Cowboys by 6

Last Week Cowboys beat the Niners 27-24 (ot), Redskins beat the Cardinals 22-21

Fast Fact The Cowboys are 0-2 in their home openers since moving to their new stadium

Two teams with little love lost for one another close out the week. Tony Romo shut a few critics up and gave fuel to his admirers as he led the Pokes with an impressive rally to beat the Niners. in spite of a busted rib and punctured lung. Its anyones guess if he will play this week. No one can be sure if Rex Grossman is the real deal this year or is Wreck waiting in the wings. This makes this an extremely difficult game to call. Im betting that Romo will try to write his name among the legendary Cowboys signal callers and gut it out. But for reasons I cant explain, I think he falls short and the Skins pull the upset.

Pick-Washington

Last Week: 11-5 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)

Overall: 21-11

Locks: 1-1

Upsets 1-1

 Musings from the Hoodwood comes at you on Tuesday.  Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!