Brownie Bits – Midweek – Week 13

Cleveland Browns News, Notes, and Commentary for Midweek Week 13

Jamal Lewis On Injured Reserve
Jamal Lewis’ 2009 season was placed on Injured Reserve after he experienced “concussion symptoms” after Sunday’s game, and it revealed concussion symptoms. Lewis plans on following through with his promise of retiring after this season, so this more than likely marks the end of Lewis’ career in the NFL and as a Cleveland Brown. Chris Jennings, a player who was released at the end of the season and then re-signed and added to the practice squad soon thereafter, will now be the starting running back. Jerome Harrison is healthy again and will be the change-of-pace back in the Browns offense this weekend as the Browns host the San Diego Chargers.

Wimbley and Coleman Both Questionable, Pool on IR
Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, and defensive end, Kenyon Coleman both missed practice on Thursday and are listed as ‘questionable’ for this Sunday. Both players injured a knee last week against Cincinnati and right now, there’s a good chance that neither will play. Safety Brodney Pool was placed on Injured Reserve this week with the fourth concussion of his career, thus potentially ending his NFL career.

24 Hour Extension Granted as Blackout Looms
Being “a few thousand” seats short of a sell-out, the NFL granted the Browns a 24-hour extension to get their game on Sunday sold-out, which would avoid the first time a game has not been shown “live” locally since the Browns returned to the NFL in 2009. As bad as the Browns have been, that specific statement is pretty astounding. There are teams in the NFL who have been to the playoffs and had numerous winning seasons during that same time span, and have had many games blacked out. For the Browns to be facing their first black out in the last 11 years, is pretty amazing. Black out or not this Sunday, the Browns should be thankful for having some of the most loyal and passionate fans in the NFL.

Tomlinson Laughing All The Way to the Hall of Fame and Playoffs
In the 2001 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns had the third pick in the first round. As their turn came up, there was a pretty good running back out of TCU still on the board. However, with such studs as running back as Jamel White and James Jackson (yes, that is very lightly camouflaged sarcasm), the Browns elected to go with DT Gerard Warren. The Chargers followed the Brown two picks later and selected that TCU back (LaDainian Tomlinson) with the fifth pick.

Since that time, Tomlinson has played in numerous winning seasons and been to the playoffs almost every season, in assembling what may very well be a career worth of the NFL Hall Of Fame. The Browns have been to the playoffs one time since then, and Gerard Warren is now with his second team since leaving the Browns, and is currently starting for Oakland. I am not sure if that’s a curse or a compliment, but the bottom line is the Browns look pretty silly even now with that draft faux pas.

Since the Browns regime that drafted Warren is now long gone, the current one may not feel the embarrassment of passing up LT. However, Tomlinson seems to have become rejuvenated as this season has progressed, so as he and the Chargers roll into town for the game Sunday, it’s very possible that some embarrassment is forthcoming….especially with Shaun Rogers not clogging up the middle.

Tags: Brodney Pool, Chris Jennings, Gerard Warrenl, Jamal Lewis, Jamel White, James Jackson, Jerome Harrison, Kamerion Wimbley, Kenyon Coleman, LaDainian Tomlinson