Is Cleveland The Most Critical Place To Play In The NFL? | dgrabbler's Blog

To start off, Derek Anderson was taken to the locker room Sunday to sounds of cheers in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Now I have read a lot of articles saying that is not right, and I do agree that it is not cool to cheer when any player gets injured, but it's not like this hasn't happened before. Remember Tim Couch? He was carted off to the locker room with the crowd cheering to his injury too.

Now here's the real question. Is Cleveland the most critical place to play in the NFL? I would have to say yes it is. I read, watch, and listen to A LOT of NFL oriented stuff, but I never hear or read anything about other teams fans (with the exception of maybe Philly fans) being as critical as the Cleveland Browns fans. Yes I am one of those critical Browns fans, but any professional NFL player or NCAA football prospect should have the sense to know that playing for Cleveland has to be one of the hardest places to play in the entire league.

Here are some example of Cleveland Browns fans being extremely critical over the years:

1.) Cleveland fans throwing anything, they could get their hands on, onto the field in the late 80s.
2.) The Cowher signs blanketing the stadium on Sunday vs. the Colts
3.) Cheering for injuries to QBs Anderson and Couch
4.) Throwing plastic beer bottles onto the field during a game, a few years back, thus causing the Cleveland Browns front office to ban plastic bottles at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
5.) Browns fans constantly chanting a backup players name when a starter does not perform.
6.) ESPN analysts commenting on how Browns fans chanting controls team decisions (specifically Trent Dilfer).
(What's a Dilfer?) That's for you Mello! :)
7.) A stadium that is almost completely empty before the end of a game during home loses.
Honorable Mention:
The Bengals fans acting out during a game causing Sam Wyches' "public service announcement" to Bengals fans in Cincy saying "You don't live in Cleveland..." (Because Bengals fans were throwing items on the field like Cleveland fans did.)

These are the few that I could think of off the top of my head. But really though...there are no fans more passionate than the Browns fans, but unfortunately we are also very critical of our team because all we want to do is win games, be competitive, and get to the playoffs. If that's a bad thing then I guess I will be extremely critical of my team year in and year out until we can consistently win in the NFL.

It's just a part of being a Cleveland Browns fan. "There's always next year."

Comments (4) Add A Comment

December 1, 2008 09:32 PM ET

Report Abuse | QUOTE

PHILADELPHIA, by far.

Never been to a game in Cleveland but I can't imagine it being any worse than those "classy" sports fans down in Philadelphia! Those idots truly deserve their empty Super Bowl trophy case!

NY Giants…

Hoboken , NJ

Total Comments (179)

December 2, 2008 12:21 PM ET

if only i had a battery and a snowball...CATCH THAT BRAYLON!!

sauce714

Lakewood , OH

Total Comments (2)

December 2, 2008 09:14 PM ET

Running Anderson out of town really doesn't make much sense.. i realize browns fan have this fetish with brady quinn.. but in my opinion the kid would have been starter from day one if he was that great. and can we remember that DA is only 25?? Hes got a lot of time to get better at this position and hes already a quality starter. Lol hes the best starter we've had in 10 years and were running him out of town for a guy with a great college background.. its not rocket science why this team never makes the playoffs.

BrownsFan1989

Total Comments (83)

December 3, 2008 11:05 AM ET

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 09:14 PM ET 12.02 by BrownsFan1989

Running Anderson out of town really doesn't make much sense.. i realize browns fan have this fetish with brady quinn.. but in my opinion the kid would have been starter from day one if he was that great. and can we remember that DA is only 25?? Hes got a lot of time to get better at this position and hes already a quality starter. Lol hes the best starter we've had in 10 years and were running him out of town for a guy with a great college background.. its not rocket science why this team never makes the playoffs.

It's true he's young, but Cleveland is tired of watching a loser, and hence, he gets no mercy for failing largely since the end of last season. His early successes last year have everyone for better or worse believing he's broken, and it's time to scrap him. And after watching bad throw after interception, it's hard to take a longer term perspective. Especially when we watch a loser year after year, save last year due to our pillow soft schedule.

And from what I saw from Brady Quinn for all the 2-3 games he played, there's more there to work with than Anderson. Quinn at least created opportuinities in pocket, and seemed the more dynamic player. Stone Feet Anderson may have a gun for an arm, but he's got no accuracy, and takes sacks a tad too easily for my liking.

Quinn's probably our guy, Crennel's next pay check should be given in the form of vouchers for bus tickets, and if Savage gets axed to get a coach with a decent resume in here, so be it. Not like the team is really any better anyway, regardless of looking better on paper.