OBR News-o-rama |
| Posted: 22 May 2008 01:45 PM CDT Savage's comments about the media, made on corporate radio partner WTAM this morning, make some level of sense. Certainly, there's nothing wrong with a GM wishing for less controversy to appear in the press. Of course, there's nothing that the team or the media can do about the simple fact that people are more interested in reading about potential controversies than reading about people just going about their jobs. |
OBR News-o-rama |
| Joy! We've Got a Browns Story!! Posted: 19 May 2008 01:26 PM CDT
Apparently ex-Browns cornerback (and all-around nice guy) Hanford Dixon has been picked up for "OVI", which I guess means "Operating a Vehicle under the Influence" or something. You would think that someone with my familiarity with alcohol would know that sort of thing, but, no. You get to witness another Webmaster Fail moment. |
OBR News-o-rama |
| More Trouble for Kenny Wright (UPDATED) Posted: 14 May 2008 09:29 AM CDT
The Browns are doing a terrific job not appearing reactive to news events. Generally considered to recoil when off-field player troubles come to light, the team tends to wait for a long time after legal problems ensue before releasing players. Last year, there was a situation with WR Maurice Mann, this year it's journeyman cornerback / alleged dope fiend Kenny Wright. The team's official stance is that they are waiting for the legal process to play out. |
OBR News-o-rama |
| Bentley Getting Close to Return Posted: 12 May 2008 02:17 PM CDT Perspicacious Browns reporter Steve Doerschuck caught up with Browns head coach Romeo Crennel at today's Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon and got him to talk briefly about the status of C LeCharles Bentley and TE Steve Heiden. Regarding Bentley, the center continues to talk about how good he feels and is close to returning to the practice field. Bentley is in NYC today, and will be coming back to Cleveland to get the look-see from Browns doctors. After that's done, assuming a good outcome, LCB will be back on the field. RAC also discussed TE Steve Heiden's minor back surgery, and with usual Crennellian restraint suggested "I think Steve will make the team". |
| Action Channel Action Tabloid FAKE News Posted: 11 May 2008 03:18 PM CDT
It's coming, folks, limited only by adoption rates for high-speed broadband connections and the pace by which web technologies are integrated into home networks and set-top boxes. And it's badly needed. |
OBR News-o-rama |
| Good Press Continues for GM Savage Posted: 11 May 2008 01:20 PM CDT Romeo Crennel has been around the NFL game a long time and knows how it works. When asked about his contract extension by the media at the recent NFL Owner's Meetings in Flint, Michigan*, Crennel said that the added years on his contract simply meant that he had to win next year. Same as always. Gotta love RAC. He never gets too high or too low, believes his press clippings, or forgets for a minute exactly how expendable anyone is in the NFL. One has to imagine that some of Crennel's humility has rubbed off on Phil Savage, or folks in the Browns training facility in Berea would be actively widening the doorways to allow his head to fit through. He's getting some good press. Oh, yes. Not only are the Browns suddenly darlings in the fleeting mercurial thoughts of the national media, but the Browns GM has been getting some amazingly positive stories written about him. That these stories appear most prominently in papers outside the City of Cleveland shouldn't be a surprise. Out-of-towners are allowed to gush, of course. Here in town, we have to stay stern and objective at all times. Well, most of us do. Some of us. Me and this other guy. Well, he stays objective. Most of the time. Anyhow, there's a great piece about Savage which we located for the OBR Newswire** this morning from the Chattanooga Times Free Press***. The article presents Savage as sort of a football prodigy, divining defensive plays before they happen and simply outworking his peers. I have to admit that I always had a soft spot in my heart for Bill Belichick, believe it or don't, because the guy worked his butt off, and Savage appears to have been cut from similar cloth. It's surely not a coincidence that the two worked together on Belichick's staff prior to Art Modell's sudden 1995 decision to interface an ice pick with the hearts of Browns fans. It's clear that a guy from Sewanee College must have had to work very hard to get noticed in the Big School world of college sports, and perspicacious behavior would have worked in his favor on Belichick's staff. Then again, Savage's comments in the article are pretty darn humble, which might have made him seem a little weird in contrast with some members of that group. If nothing else, the article confirms that Browns fans in the OBR forums had good judgment back in 2005 when they began flooding the Browns switchboard with calls and emails insisting that Randy Lerner hold onto Savage and dump that other guy who wore the expensive suits. Savage also gets good mention in the Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune as he is speaking for the Don Hall Memorial. When teams win, the press can be as positive as it is bad when they're losing. The league's long-term survivors, I guess, neither ride the emotional waves too high or too low. Right now, the love for the Browns and their GM is scattered all over newsprint. What a change from just a short time ago.
* Just kidding. They had gathered at the fanciest hotel in Palm Springs or some such place, conveniently sans Rust Belt economic angst. ** Open 24 hours, uncensored and frequently imitated. Since 1999. *** Not a joke. That's the actual name. I guess there's been some consolidation in the Chattanooga newspaper business. Just don't let the folks at Channel Action 19 Headline Action Tabloid News find out someone's copped their branding techniques. |
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| Shocking Almost-Relevant Player Arrest! Posted: 09 May 2008 08:50 PM CDT Three or four hours ago, we became aware of a story that had ex-Browns player Dyshod Carter arrested for cocaine trafficking out in Arizona. I sort of shrugged my shoulders and went back to what I was doing, figuring that no one really cares about the allegedly illegal exploits of a marginal ex-Browns player who never made a serious mark in this town. |
OBR News-o-rama |
| Willie McGinest on NFL Total Access Posted: 09 May 2008 09:49 AM CDT Browns linebacker WIllie McGinest appeared on the NFL Network's Total Access happycast last night, and talked a bit about his old team. McGinest, of course, has made news recently when he first admitted that 2008 would be his final season (which was pretty much known before). NFL Network doesn't allow video embedding so you have to go to their site: |
| Posted: 08 May 2008 11:56 PM CDT Here's the video from Braylon Edwards' appearance on ESPN last week. |
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| Browns Announce Media Availability Posted: 08 May 2008 02:03 PM CDT The Browns begin their Off-Season Training Activities (OTAs) next week. These are essentially "voluntary" practice sessions, where "voluntary" can be translated as "participate is optional despite the likelihood of public and private ostracism for non-attendance". "Voluntary" is more compact and succinct, don't you think? In any event, the Browns are allowing the media in one day each week during the next three weeks. The media can attend practices, interview players, and talk to Romeo Crennel on May 14. 21, and 28. So, that's when you'll see Browns stories appear in the local media over the next couple of weeks. The practices are closed to the public. - Barry |
| Yes, the NFL is a Big Meanie, But Posted: 08 May 2008 10:21 AM CDT May is a beautiful time of year. It's when cherry trees in Northeast Ohio flower, when lawnmowers and barbeque grills creakily re-emerge for weekend use, and when lawyers in expensive suits emerge from the darkness of their caves and preen in front of fan sites, showering them with gifts of cease and desist letters, as well as various other threats. The emergence of blogs has created the opportunity for any fan to generate a site celebrating his team in just a few minutes. This is a great avenue for self-expression, and for displaying passion for both your team and your writing. It also creates lots of targets and work for the lawyers. NFL teams go after any copyrighted images, phrases or terms that they can find. In the case of the Bengals blog listed above, they went after the phrase "Welcome to the Jungle", trademarked team images, and photographs. The hassling isn't isolated to one team or blog. The above-linked example of a Bengals blog is far from the only one, and I've heard rumors of Browns fans sites getting hit with this sort of thing as well. As is the case with many lawsuits, there's more than enough foolishness on both sides to go around. Granted, we've only heard one side of the story, but it seems that the NFL, rather than educating bloggers and webmasters, simply goes after them with a bludgeon, threatening them into compliance rather than educating them on what's allowable and what's not. It's an act of total arrogance, of course, with the NFL and their franchises doing a great job of turning hyper-dedicated fans into cynical observers. The NFL and the Bengals don't care, though. They don't need a handful of fans. They're expendable. At least, that's the message I'm receiving. If I ran that blog, I would probably be upset, too... but... let's face it, there's only so much naivete that one can swallow before starting to choke. A couple of notes for the blogger, or those who believe the same things he does: You will not get credentialed. NFL teams will not credential internet-only sites or sites which are not affiliated with a print publication, TV, or radio. The OBR is credentialed because we have a print magazine, which is far more critical than our relationship with FoxSports.com. The only web-only sites I've seen get access to the Browns press box are ESPN and Cleveland Live, the latter which is affiliated with the Plain Dealer and has business relationships with the team. There are some good reasons for this, including the capacity of media rooms, and professionalism. It's hard enough for professional reporters to come away with the information they need to hit deadlines without wading through a crowd of hobbyists and fans. The sidelines are already crowded with photographers. When the OBR received credentials, we paid the money and hired reporters and photographers with decades of experience. We had to sacrifice. We had to create a real business model. I can't tell you how many times I've felt personally bashed for running a subscription service. But it's something you have to do if you want to provide news rather than just commenting on it. As someone who has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into developing a professional news organization, I guess I wouldn't be happy if every blogger who asked was allowed to drop a "media" badge around their neck. Expecting teams to credential you because you run a blog simply isn't realistic. Teams don't need the "publicity" from a blog. I don't even to need to expound on this. The NFL doesn't need you. They're clumsy for ticking you off with ham-fisted legal threats, and it doesn't help their image, but their bottom line isn't impacted by your blog one bit. Half the local papers could drop coverage for the AP wire and I doubt it would impact them at all. If you need more information on how this works, even with credentialed news organizations, read this. A publicly available image is not in the "public domain". I see this everywhere. Bloggers confuse being able to surf to an image on the internet with it being available for their use. It's not. On the OBR, we pay money to the Associated Press and Getty Images for licenses to use their images. That doesn't mean carte blanche, either - the licenses are fairly strict. I can't tell you how many fan sites or blogs feel they can get around this by "thanking" the photographers for the images. They don't want your appreciation - they want your MONEY. If you want the rights and privileges of professionals, then act like professionals. Don't steal copyrighted images and licensed trademarks. If you have borrowed one and are asked to take it down, then do what's right. I see "fan sites" littered with ads and stolen photos. They're just asking for it.
But you have to go into this with your eyes open. NFL clubs are more than just businesses - they're local monopolies who have no problem driving the demand for their product. If you want to run a fan blog, you'll need to compromise frequently, particularly if you try to profit through it in some way. If you want more than that, then be prepared to do more. Be prepared to jump into it as a full-time vocation and spend a lot of money carving out a niche against well-heeled and sometimes brutal competitors who will do everything they can to hide your existence from fans. As someone who has changed his economic standing to chase his dream, I can attest that it is not for the faint-hearted. I've thought about getting out many times. You can invest years and your life savings and still be flicked away like a gnat. The sports media business is like any other - it is not a hobby, and it does not reward naivete. |
| Posted: 08 May 2008 08:56 AM CDT Leave it so the perspicacious folks at Viking Update to point us to how little the Browns have to spend this year to sign their rookies. The Browns, for obvious reasons, have been given less money to spend than any other team in the NFL, with only $1,789,980 allocated to the rookies. The Vikings are 31st, with $2,055,780. The Kansas City Chiefs and their 12 drafted rookies, get $8,221,790 to sign their guys. Here's the complete list, per ESPN: Team Picks Pool KC 12 $8,221,790 ATL 11 $7,918,670 MIA 9 $6,538,400 STL 8 $5,997,510 CHI 12 $5,791,190 CIN 10 $5,555,750 CAR 9 $5,371,570 BUF 10 $5,351,820 BAL 10 $5,045,770 NYJ 6 $4,903,030 DEN 9 $4,877,060 DET 9 $4,815,910 WAS 10 $4,543,890 NE 7 $4,344,990 NO 6 $4,295,240 PHI 10 $4,256,320 OAK 5 $4,119,700 DAL 6 $4,095,120 GB 9 $4,076,190 ARI 7 $3,919,230 TEN 7 $3,822,960 JAX 5 $3,721,960 PIT 7 $3,719,450 TB 7 $3,699,370 SEA 7 $3,674,960 NYG 7 $3,521,820 HOU 6 $3,477,820 SF 6 $3,413,020 IND 9 $3,305,300 SD 5 $2,627,940 MIN 5 $2,055,780 CLE 5 $1,789,980 |
| Posted: 07 May 2008 10:02 PM CDT Unlike a lot of football players, Babatunde Oshinowo has a lucrative career to fall back on. The mammoth lineman from Stanford managed to get himself a degree in Electrical Engineering. That education may come in handy, as Oshinowo has been released by the Bears. Then again, your humble OBR webmaster has a couple of electrical engineering degrees (BS '84, MS '86) and I spend my days formatting stuff like this into HTML. Bracket - slash P - Bracket. Come to think of it, Baba, you better get back into the gym. Certain doom may await. BearReport.com points to the selection of Marcus Harrison in the draft as the key reason for Oshinowo's release. Here's the press release we got from the Bears earlier today: BEARS RELEASE TWO PLAYERSLAKE FOREST, IL - The Chicago Bears released defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and guard Mike Jones today. Oshinowo was elevated to the Bears active roster for the final three weeks of the 2007 regular season, appearing in one game, after being signed to Chicago's practice squad in Week 2. Oshinowo entered the NFL as a sixth round selection (181st overall) of the Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Stanford product has appeared in two games in his NFL career, recording two tackles. Jones spent the final seven weeks of the 2007 season on the Bears practice squad after entering the NFL out of the University of Iowa as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. |
| Posted: 07 May 2008 09:55 PM CDT As I noted in a message to the OBR Twitter feed earlier this evening, it looks like Bill Belichick has got a lot of trouble heading in his direction. The New York Times is reporting this evening that Matt Walsh has handed over eight tapes to the NFL showing how opponents signals were taped by Belichick and the Patriots between 2000-2002. Reporter Greg Bishop describes what's on the tapes and it doesn't sound really good for the one-time Browns coach. One of the games taped was apparently a Browns game. Remembering that era, I think the operative question is "why?". "Spygate" has ebbed in the public consciousness of late, but this will bring it to the fore again, and Matt Walsh suddenly seems a bit more credible than he did in the past. The Scout network has played a non-trivial role in this, as Jets Confidential editor Dan Leberfeld was instrumental in breaking the Spygate story. There a non-tangential tale of front-office pettiness from Foxborough that is likely related to this, which I may tell at some point in the future. |
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Looks like the local news has a story it can really get behind. 
UPDATED: Browns reacting to the media? You decide. The team 
I've been pretty honest with everyone about this - I don't have a high opinion of many in the local and regional TV racket, and am anxiously looking forward to that particular bastion of old-guard media arrogance tumbling down.