There are various internet reports citing that Cleveland Browns owner, Randy Lerner, was visibly upset with the way the team played in Chicago.  So much so that at the half, while the team was walking off the field, Lerner stood in the tunnel while the team exited the field.

“I want those guys to see me,” Lerner said.

He waited right there and glared at the players and coaches again as they came out of the locker room and took the field for the second half too.

The owner was clearly fuming,  as visibly irate as he’s been since he took over ownership of the club when his father, Al Lerner, passed away in 2002.

“I’m tired of this (stuff)!” he said.

Later, he confided to an associate of the team, “This is terrible.”

“So what do you do?” the associate asked.

Lerner replied, “I don’t know.”

One might wonder why the sudden care all of a sudden?

Just last week, Lerner was giving head coach Eric Mangini praise by saying he looked at this organization and team and found it had no direction, no talent, and no philosophy.  He sounded as he if he is getting all those things from the Kokinis/Mangini regime.

So why the change?

Sure, no owner would be happy with a 1-7 start to a season, but I think this has to do more with the upcoming Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens and the reported fan protest coming up.  Randy does not want to be embarrassed by the fans not being in their seats for the start of the game so he has taken action.

At the beginning of the week, Lerner offered an emailed reply to the planned protest and a reassurance to the fans that he feels their pain and is doing everything he can.  He also sounded as though he was on the right track with Kokinis and Mangini.

”On the grounds of frustration and irritation with performance, then that’s the medicine I [we] are going to take, and I accept that. The goal this year was to rebuild the culture at the Browns. We felt at the end of last year that we lacked any overall philosophy, approach or direction regarding recruiting, drafting, coaching, preparation or training. As a result, each season was feeling like starting over and 4-12 following 10-6 felt painfully not all that surprising.

”It’s been way too long since the Browns have had anything to feel good about or invest in, and it’s clear that the doubt and negativity are taking on a life of their own.

”What I can say is that we, and I, have remained open to new and fresh ideas and thinking and people with passion for the Browns and football experience getting involved and with hope and luck and support, making a difference. We won’t become entrenched or stubborn and despite my allergy to be more conspicuous, I do remain eager to seek help and guidance from any and all corners.”

If this apparent protest of the fans does happen, it will be on national television and it will also give fans all over the NFL something to talk about.  That something will not be good.

I personally think this planned protest is wrong.  While we can all be against the war and it’s generals, we should be ready to cheer our butt off in support of our troops.  Whether we like it or not, these boys are still Cleveland Browns and they still wear that glorious plain orange helmet.  They deserve at least that much from us on one of the biggest games of the season for this young team.

I fear the player backlash from a successful protest would harm fan relations for years.  If we fail to support the troops, they may scoff at us when they do start to win and remember how we turned our backs on them during the biggest game and showcase of the season.

My best guess is that Randy Lerner’s comments and concern are in hopes that fans see that he gets the message they want to send with a protest and squash the idea.  Lerner is taking a pro-active approach to the fans mobilization.

I mean, who cares if the guy that calls himself “Dawg Pound Mike” is not in his seat as long as the rest of the fans are in theirs.

Message sent.  Message received.  Protest diminished, possibly even averted completed.

Filed under: Op/Ed Articles