Meadowdale H.S. graduation 2012
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Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2009 > August > 20
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Is it really a must win?
Jim Donovan, the team’s radio play-by-play guy, declares Saturday night’s exhibition game against the Detroit Lions a “must win” today on his blog.
Know what? Ridiculous as that sounds, he might not be that far off.
Donovan’s reasoning is simple. The Browns, 0-1 in the preseason after getting blanked at Green Bay last week, have not won since November 2008, which by the way coincides with their last offensive touchdown.
If only for their own mental health after sweating and straining all these weeks, players are hungry for any indication that the upcoming season will contain more than a couple of wins. So, of course, are the fans.
Some forecasters — indeed some commenters on this blog — suggest the Browns will be in the hunt for the top overall pick in next year’s draft, the “prize” that goes to the team with the NFL’s worst record.
So the “Great Lakes Classic” — can you say that without laughing? — is more than just another preseason spectacle, if you subscribe to Donovan’s logic.
Problem is, what happens if they don’t beat the team that went 0-16 last season, or if their first units are outplayed dramatically as was the case against Green Bay? Then where are you?
Bottom line: You know you’ve stumbled to a low point in franchise history when the second exhibition game is considered vital to the health of your season.
