There’s a rumor floating around these here interwebs that the Browns may be releasing their new uniforms soon. Some say it’s February 16, some says it’s February 18th, but no one really has any idea. We gathered all the uniform concepts floating around Twitter etc. and rated them. Some are good, some are pretty bad. I imagine that whatever the Browns and Nike come up with, they’ll resemble something in this gallery
UPDATE: Those dates are obviously completely wrong
. If you know of any that aren’t on here, tweet us @Bottlegate
Rating: 6
Rating: 3
Rating: 7
Rating: 6
Rating: 9
Rating: 6.5
Don’t know why, but I’m liking the grey Rating: 7
Rating: 9
I love matte helmets Rating: 9.5
Rating: 8
Rating: 5
Rating: 8.5
Rating: 8
Rating: 4
Reminds me a little too much of Tampa Bay’s new unis Rating: 5
Rating: 1
Ummm pants? Rating: 5
Rating: 7
Rating: 7
Rating: 6
Rating: 8
Rating: 9 via @Wreckthisleague
Note: None of these pictures were made by anyone from Bottlegate.com nor do they belong to us. If you see your design up there, let us know and we’ll give you your deserved credit
What a rollercoaster of a year for the Browns. Ups and downs. Ups and downs. It felt like us fans were on a year long joy ride atop the Millennium Force. The Browns went from laughingstock (not being able to find a coach; firing Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi); to the most popular team in the league; to starting a very respectable 6-3 and being in first place; to ending the season on a 5 game losing streak with questions surrounding the entire organization.
Let’s have a quick look at the year that was:
High points
May 8th: Johnny Manziel gets drafted
Seems like a decade ago. Man, that was fun. Whatever. #NoRegrets
September 14th: Beating the Saints in our home opener on a last second field goal
I’ve been to a ton of Browns games and that was the happiest I’ve ever seen the stadium as it was emptying out.
Even though the Ravens beat us in week 3, this fucking guy stole the show and became an instant Cleveland legend
October 12: Beating the piss out of the Steelers 31-10 at home
November 6th: Beating the Bengals on national TV and subsequently standing alone in first place in the AFC North
Low Points
February 11th: Joe Banner and Michael Lombardi leave the Browns.
In hindsight this wasn’t really a low point but at the time the sky was falling.
May 9th: Josh Gordon gets suspended for the entire season
(suspension would later be reduced to 10 games)
September 7th: The first Steelers game; Mainly just the first half and this
October 19th: Browns get embarrassed by Jacksonville
A week after beating Pittsburgh by 3 touchdowns, the Browns stink up the joint in Jacksonville and hand the Jaguars their first win of the season
November 30th-Present
It started with the loss to the Bills. Then Indy. Then Cincy. Then Carolina. Then Baltimore. The whole month of December was a roundhouse kick right to the nuts.
Biggest Surprise
Tashaun Gipson
Finished second in the league in interceptions with only ELEVEN games played. Helped anchor one of the better secondaries in the NFL.
Joel Bitonio
Everyone was touting the lineman as the best player the Browns drafted. He was. It’s a sham he missed out on the Pro Bowl.
Paul Kruger
Followed up a disappointing 2013 season with 11 sacks in 2014. Was a disruptive pass rushing force every game.
The 6-3 start
No one and I mean no once expected the Browns to have any sort of success this season. They especially didn’t think the Browns would be in the hunt for a playoff berth in December… Oh wait. Someone did. And that someone is yours truly.
From our review in September:
Biggest Disappointments
The 3 J’s; Josh, Johnny, and Justin
2 first round picks that barely contributed and a Pro Bowl wide receiver that was suspended 10 games and barely contributed. The three ended 2014 on a very sour note.
Billy Cundiff
Shank city. Population: Billy
December
Wake me up when December ends. The Browns season (along with their playoff aspirations) were flushed down the toilet this month.
2015 Outlook
Until we find a QB this team will never reach that next step. I don’t know if the QB of the future is on this team (I hope), in the draft, or a free agent. It’ll be interesting to see how Ray Farmer addresses this situation.
There’s never a dull moment with the Browns and 2014 proved that. I expect 2015 to not be any different. Should be fun.
“BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns on Tuesday waived RB Ben Tate. General Manager Ray Farmer made the announcement.
“With all the transactions we make while constructing our roster, it will always be our intent to do what is best for our football team,” said Farmer. “This move is no different and we wish Ben the best going forward.”
Tate started six of the eight games he appeared in this season. He rushed for 333 yards with four touchdowns and added nine receptions for 60 yards.”
I have no ill will towards Ben Tate. He was a serviceable running back, probably one of my least cussed-at Browns players this season. It was a good signing at the time. Not all good signings work out. That’s sports. I’m just extremely encouraged that the front office was willing to admit they were wrong, saw the talent they have in West and Crowell and pulled the trigger. Dishing out carries between two rookies that have shown what they have shown this year is SO much better than adding a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type back like Tate into the mix. Let these two kids grow and see what they can do with a heavier workload. Although we all know we probably don’t even need to line anyone up at running back (slash any other position) with 12 coming back this week. Giggity.
Bottlegate 