The Texans have developed a pretty impressive and loyal local fan base, particularly given the team’s lack of success so far in its first five NFL seasons. But as loyal as Texans fans are, they don’t hold a candle to Cleveland Browns fans, whose once legendary team was stolen from them (that team is now the Baltimore Ravens) and then reincarnated a few years before the Texans were created as one of the worst expansion franchises in the history of the NFL. As this News-Herald article reports, the Browns are now the answer to a new NFL trivia question:
Since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, which team named a starting quarterback for its first game and then traded that player before its second one?
(Answer: Browns starter Charlie Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday for a sixth-round draft pick.)
Moreover, while their Browns were getting thumped at home 34-7 by the Steelers this past Sunday, get a load of what the capacity crowd at the Browns stadium endured in the first offensive series of the season by the Browns:
1st and 10 from the Cleveland 20: Jamal Lewis rush for 2 yards (this was the high point of the series).
2nd and 8 from the 22: Charlie Frye pass incomplete.
3rd and 8 from the 22 Charlie Frye sacked at the Browns 17 for a 5 yard loss.
4th and 13 from the 17: Browns punter Paul Ernster “booms” a 15 yarder to the Cleveland 32. But that’s just the beginning of the incompetence on that particular play. Look at the rest of the stat line for that fourth Browns play of the season:
Penalty on CLV-35-J.Harrison, Defensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at CLV 32.
Penalty on CLV-90-D.McMillan, Defensive Holding, declined.
Penalty on CLV-56-A.Peek, Illegal Formation, declined.
Penalty on CLV, Ineligible Downfield Kick, declined.
So, to recap, on their first offensive series of the season, the Browns had a 2 yard rush, an incomplete pass, a sack, and a 15 yard punt with four penalties. The Steelers took possession of the ball at the Cleveland 22 and scored a touchdown four plays later.
There is a special place in football heaven for Cleveland Browns fans. ;^)
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ABC News investigative reporter John Stossel provides this WSJ ($) op-ed in yesterday’s paper in preparation for his long-awaited ABC special on America’s health care and health care finance system tonight at 9 p.m., CDT: