Tag Archives: Cleveland Browns

The Browns finally reach the 21st Century; introduce Phase 2 of their renovations

January 14, 2015 Mike Leave a comment

All 35 concession stands throughout the stadium will be remodeled with modernized facades, signage, menu boards and way-finding. The Browns’ food and beverage transformation, spearheaded by an expanded partnership with Aramark, will take a big step forward with additional celebrity chef stands that will be available to all fans in the 100 level, upgrades to all concession stands and food concepts throughout the building and additional portable chef stands added to the 500 level. Among the expanded options: Michael Symon’s “B Spot,” Rocco Whalen’s “Great Lakes Cheesesteaks,” Jonathon Sawyer’s “Sausage and Peppers” and Chris Hodgson’s “Downtown Dogs.” Even the concession areas that do not feature these chefs will be much more Cleveland-centric and provide upgraded food and beverage items.

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The lights will be brighter, the signage and way-finding throughout the concourse will be spruced up and easier to read and high-definition graphics of Browns players, legends and the Dawg Pound will be displayed inside and outside of the stadium. The graphics on the outside will be big enough to see from the road as fans drive toward Lake Erie for the big game.

Every inch of the stadium’s premium areas will be revitalized while the Grille Club, north and south clubs and upper- and lower-level suites will be restructured and refurbished. A field-level hospitality location will be added opposite of the Browns’ locker room. There, fans will be able to enjoy food, drink and warmth as they watch the players run out of the tunnel and onto the field at the start of the game and after halftime.

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Here’s a few pics of the proposed changes

“It doesn’t matter what the stadium looks like, the team just needs to win” – Every fan over the age of 50 probably

Love it. This is much needed. With the growing popularity of watching the NFL at home (Sunday Ticket, huge HD TVs) the Browns needed to inject some life into the boring concourse and suite level. The new scoreboards are fantastic, but go to (almost) any other stadium in the NFL and the Browns are way behind the times. There’s no personality, no local foods (except for a few), just regular old concession stands with regular old concession stand food. This gives the fans a little variety on what to wash down their 22nd beer with.

I’m not even going to address the suites because ha, no chance I’ll ever be in one.

Now can we please get some more damn concerts in here? Geez Louise.

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PS- Is it the most Browns thing ever to use pictures of Josh Cribbs in these new plans? He hasn’t been on the team in like 3 years.

Browns

Browns part ways with OC Kyle Shanahan

January 8, 2015 Ai Leave a comment

Sources tell @NFLonFOX that @Browns OC Kyle Shanahan asked for and was granted his release. QBs coach Dowell Loggains was fired

— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 8, 2015

If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it won’t, because you’re from Cleveland. Twas announced a little while ago that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan asked for, and was granted, his release from the team after just one season. There were reports earlier this week that some friction existed between the Browns front office and coaching staff (Gasp!), which presumably was the cause behind what happened today. One of the more popular rumors is that he will reunited with poppa Mike, whom he worked under in Washington before coming to Cleveland. Buffalo, San Francisco, Oakland and Chicago all seem to be possibilities for one or both of them.

Funny thing about Cleveland sports – when you see something you like going on, you’re not sure if you like it because it’s actually good, or if you like it because what came before it was just so goddamn awful. Happened earlier this year for me when the Indians traded Asdrubal Cabrera and let Jose Ramirez finish out the year at shortstop. Felt like I was watching fucking Omar. This could be why I’m actually pretty bummed about losing Shanahan after one year. Other than his obligatory 15 toss sweeps for -5 total yards a game, I actually thought he had a decent amount of creativity in his play-calling. Certainly more so than the run-run-pass-punt schemes we’ve been subjected to over the past few years. I also really would have liked to see what he could have done with Johnny given a full off-season to prepare. I could totally see him on top of his own swan after #2 clinched a playoff berth after week 16. Sigh.

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Browns v Ravens Monday Game Tape; It’s Over. It’s finally over.

December 29, 2014 Mike Leave a comment

It’s over. It’s finally over. You know in Call of Duty when you’re on your “Last Stand?” Just laying on the ground bleeding out, about to die, and blindly shooting at the other team hoping to do some damage? That’s what these last couple of games for the Browns felt like. Just laying there waiting to die and waiting for the season to end.

Honestly though, we need to give credit to this coaching staff and group (most of them) of players. With all the stupid bullshit distractions they’ve faced the past couple weeks, it’s refreshing to know that they never quit and never laid down. That’s a lot more than we could say about past teams. So kudos or something, even though you lost 5 in a row… you didn’t quit. So, uh, thanks for that? Let’s look at the game tape.

The teams traded field goals in the first half and went into halftime tied at 3-3.

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Any other QB in the league this is penalty. Connor Shaw? Nope. I imagine the ref said “Buckle up your chinstrap son, this is the NFL.” Then gave him a pat on the ass and accepted a $20 from Terrell Suggs.

They would’ve had to call an ambulance for Tom Brady

That pass went for 49 yards BTW.

Terrance West scored after that.

Browns took the lead but in a later drive by the Ravens Joe Flacco threw 2 passes to Torrey Smith and Baltimore drove down the field in about 6 seconds, took the lead, and never looked back

And the Ravens added another TD to win 20-10 AND the Browns fell to 7-9 when they were once 7-4 AND ended the season on a 5 game losing streak AND are the only team in the AFC North that didn’t make the playoffs AND still don’t have a legit NFL quarterback at the moment AND…. AND…. sigh. Got all that?

Quick thoughts:

– How about Joe Haden, man? Has the flu, gets an IV just to play in this “meaningless” game with his 7-8 team and comes in and balls out (aside from the long Torrey Smith pass). He didn’t have to play today, he could have easily taken the day off to rest up for his 2nd straight Pro Bowl and no one would have blamed him. We need more guys like Joe who actually give a fuck about the name on the front of the jersey. If anyone cared about this team as much as Haden, we wouldn’t be 7-9 and losers of 5 in a row.

– You don’t tell Meder when the play starts, he tells you. Nice to see a NE Ohio kid getting some playing time.

– Really encouraged by Craig Robertson. The past few games I’ve seen him making plays all over the field. I don’t know what his actual defensive stats are in those games but every time I look up it seems like Craig is drilling some guy into the ground.

– Kudos to Connor Shaw. Undrafted rookie. Wasn’t even on the roster last week. Depleted receiving corps and O-Line. And has to make his first start on the road vs. a division opponent fighting for their playoff lives. Oh, and he has Terrell Suggs staring him in the face every play… I doubt he’s the answer to the Browns QB problems but he certainly earned my respect yesterday.

– Could this year have gone any worse for our two first round draft picks? Seriously, if you would have told me it’d be the “worst case scenario” for those 2 guys I wouldn’t have even thought it’d be this bad.

– We’re gonna need a punt returner next year.

– It’s taken A LOT but I’m almost at my breaking point with Johnny Manziel. Almost. I’m still not ready to write him off yet. He definitely needs to grow the fuck up though.

– I don’t think I could say anything about Josh Gordon, Johnny Manziel, or Justin Gilbert that hasn’t already been said… but holy shit I can’t want for Pettine’s press conference on Monday. I hope he brings it strong.

-This Alabama fan on Instagram sure doesn’t like Johnny Manziel

– Thank GOD Jimmy Haslam isn’t firing Pettine or Farmer. That’d set this franchise back about 5 years. Think about this though- if Harbaugh already wasn’t going to Michigan would Haslam back Pettine like he did? Something to ponder.

RIP Cleveland Browns 2014 Season. See you guys at a draft party somewhere. Let’s do some shots. Thanks for reading these every Monday.