How should the AFC North Improve? (Browns, Steelers, Bengals and Ravens)

[simmytbone]

Hey guys,

The NFL 2015 Season is just around the corner

Let's talk about the AFC Conference

The AFC North has been one of the most competitive divisions in the conference

Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns have not won a championship since 1964 and haven't won ANY Super Bowls or Championships Since

The Browns have also not been in the Playoffs since 2002-2003 when they clinched the AFC Wild Card in the #6 Seed, however during that season, they lost 3 times in 1 season to their longtime Division Rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers each by 3 points

September 29, 2002 in Pittsburgh, the Steelers def. the Browns 16–13

November 3, 2001 in Cleveland, the Steelers def. the Browns....AGAIN 23–20

January 5, 2003 in Pittsburgh, the Steelers who clinched the AFC North def. the Browns one more time 36-33

Since then, the Browns have been struggling and not only that, but they've have been having issues on their team and last year, just when the Browns were on the verge of makin' the playoffs, they've lost 5 games in a row and they also ended their record of 7-9

They've split the series with Division Rivals Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals

They went 3-1 over the NFC South pulling off nail biting wins against the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons (my team that is) and they won back to back against 2 Former Super Bowl Champs in the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

However, they were 1-3 against the AFC South

They lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans as well as losing 5 games in a row to the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, got shutout on their home field to the Bengals, lost to the Carolina Panthers and got swept by the Baltimore Ravens

Jimmy Haslam the GM of the Cleveland Browns stated that he won't tolerate irresponsible players referring to the likes of Johnny Manziel, Justin Gilbert and Josh Gordon who got suspended for the entire season

On the other hand, 3 teams made the playoffs last year

Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens-The same 3 teams that clinched the playoffs in 2011-2012

Pittsburgh Steelers won 6 Super Bowls which is more Super Bowls than any other team in Franchise History

Ben Roethlisberger along with Head Coach Mike Tomlin won 2 Super Bowls def. the likes of 2 NFC West Division Teams in the likes of the Seattle Seahawks @ Super Bowl XL on abc and the Arizona Cardinals @ Super Bowl XLIII on NBC

35 years ago, Terry Bradshaw won his 4th and Final Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in front of 103,985 Fans which is still THE Largest Attendance in Super Bowl History @ the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA

They also tie the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots with the most Super Bowl Appearances with 8

The Steelers also lost the Super Bowl to 2 teams in the Dallas Cowboys @ Super Bowl XXX on NBC and to the Green Bay Packers @ Super Bowl XLV on Fox

Last Year, halfway through the season, they released LeGarrette Blount who went BACK to the New England Patriots and they would end up winning the Super Bowl

The Cincinnati Bengals have been in the Super Bowl (twice) and they've lost both times to the San Francisco 49ers

Since 2009-2010, the Bengals have clinched the AFC North formally AFC Central for a 7th time, however, they lost in the Wild Card Round to the Wild Card Team of the New York Jets

However, so far this decade, with Carson Palmer now Quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, the Bengals called on Andy Dalton to become the NEW QB for the team

Since 2011-2012, the Bengals have clinched the playoffs 4 years in a row, but, they've lost in the Wild Card Round those 4 times

In 2011 & 2012, the Bengals clinched the AFC Wild Card, but lost back to back to the Houston Texans

In 2013, the Bengals clinched the AFC North Division Title for the 8th time, but lost to the AFC Wild Card Team of the San Diego Chargers

and last year in 2014, the Bengals ended their run in Cincinnati with a HUGE Win over the Denver Broncos on the Season Finale of MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL with a score of 37–28

However, on the Season Finale of SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on NBC, the Bengals went to Pittsburgh and lost to the Steelers with a score of 17–27 which resulted in the Steelers clinching the AFC North Division Title for the 21 time, their 1st in 4 years and the Bengals have once again clinched the AFC Wild Card

and on Wild Card Weekend, the Bengals have once again lost in the 1st Round to the Indianapolis Colts 26-10 and earlier in the Regular Season, the Bengals got SHUTOUT by the Colts in Indy 27-0

The Ravens on the other hand have also had success and failures in the NFL

For nearly 20 years since 1996 when the Colts moved to Indianapolis, the Ravens were born in Baltimore

Since the year 2000 which marked the beginning of the 21st Century, the Ravens have clinched the playoffs 10 times

They missed the playoffs in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2013

They also clinched the AFC North Division Title 4 times, which includes clinching the Division Back to Back in 2011 and 2012

They lost the Divisional Playoffs in 2003 to the Tennessee Titans and in 2006, to the Indianapolis Colts and lost the Conference Title to the Patriots in 2011

During the 2000/2001 Season, the Ravens clinched the playoff berth for the 1st time in Franchise History when they clinched the Wild Card

They def. the Denver Broncos 21-3, when the Ravens Defense stopped Gus Frerotte from throwing a Touchdown Pass in Baltimore, then they went to Tennessee and def. the Titans in the Divisional Playoffs 24-10 and then, went to Oakland and def. the Raiders 16-3 and kept Veteran MVP Quarterback Rich Gannon from throwing a Touchdown Pass

and @ Super Bowl XXXV on CBS, the Ravens won their very 1st Super Bowl in Franchise History by SLAYING the New York GIANTS 34-7 @ the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL in front of a LIVE attendance of 71,921

Playing against arguably the greatest defense in history, the GIANTS were dominated and lost to Coach Brian Billick's Baltimore Ravens with a score of 34-7. Kerry Collins threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a TD; the GIANTS only score was a Ron Dixon 97-yard kick return. It was the GIANTS' first loss in a Super Bowl, and to date is the only one of the GIANTS' 5 Super Bowl appearances that ended in defeat

BAL- TD: Brandon Stokley 38-yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Matt Stover kick) 7–0 BAL
BAL- FG: Matt Stover 47 yards 10–0 BAL
BAL- TD: Duane Starks 49-yard interception return (Matt Stover kick) 17–0 BAL
NYG- TD: Ron Dixon 97-yard kickoff return (Brad Daluiso kick) 17–7 BAL
BAL- TD: Jermaine Lewis 84-yard kickoff return (Matt Stover kick) 24–7 BAL
BAL- TD: Jamal Lewis 3-yard run (Matt Stover kick) 31–7 BAL
BAL- FG: Matt Stover 34 yards 34–7 BAL

Ray Lewis who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 was named Super Bowl MVP

This was also Brian Billick's Only Super Bowl Victory as Head Coach for the Ravens

12 years later, the Ravens would go on to clinch the AFC North Division once again, this time, they were tied with the Bengals with a record of 10-6, but as a result of the Ravens being 4-2 in the Division and the Bengals being 3-3, the Ravens owned the tiebreaker

The Ravens def. the AFC Wild Card Team of the Indianapolis Colts lead by Andrew Luck who was in his Rookie Year as the QB for the team with a score of 24-9

In the Divisional Playoffs, the Ravens went to Denver and knocked off the #1 seeded Denver Broncos lead by Peyton Manning who was in his 1st year with the team with a score of 38-35 in DOUBLE OVERTIME which includes Joe Flacco's 70-Yard TOUCHDOWN Catch to Jacoby Jones to take in to OT, and when Manning threw an Interception to Defensive Back Corey Graham it was over when Justin Tucker kicked a Game Winning Field Goal of 47-Yards

and in the Conference Championship, the Ravens went BACK to New England and got revenge on Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick with a score of 28-13

and @ Super Bowl XLVII inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA in front of 71,024 in attendance, the Ravens took on the San Francisco 49ers in what was a historic moment as 2 coaches who were brothers faced off

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh went face to face with his younger brother Jim Harbaugh who was the Head Coach of the 49ers

The Ravens won despite a nail-biter with a score of 34-31

Joe Flacco threw 3 TD Passes to the likes of Anquan Boldin, Dennis Pitta and Jacoby Jones

Jones also had a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown

Kaepernick had 2 TD's, 1 TD pass to Michael Crabtree and a rushing TD, Frank Gore also had a rushing TD as well

In his 1st Super Bowl as Quarterback for the Ravens, Joe Flacco took home Super Bowl MVP

and as a result of that, the Ravens go 2-0 in the Super Bowl and Ray Lewis who announced his retirement that year, walked away with 2 Super Bowl Rings and he is now a Commentator for ESPN Monday Night Countdown

Both of the Ravens Super Bowl Victories aired on CBS

Last year, the Ravens not only swept the NFC South of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints, but they also swept the Entire State of Florida in the Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Miami Dolphins

The Ravens are also getting ready for their 20th Season

and so, I ask you all this:

How should the AFC North Teams Improve?

What should the Cleveland Browns do to get BACK in the Playoff Picture?

What should the Pittsburgh Steelers do to get back in the Groove?

What should the Cincinnati Bengals do to get over the Playoff Hump?

and most of all, what should the Baltimore Ravens do to Get Back to the Super Bowl?

THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS!

Please share your thoughts on all of this

Cleveland Browns-a team that haven't won a title in 50 years


Josh Gordon & Johnny Manziel-2 Browns with BIG TIME ISSUES


Bengals' Marvin Lewis, Andy Dalton and A.J. Green looking to bounce back after 4 playoff losses


Terry Bradshaw; 4x Super Bowl Champion w/the Steelers and the 1st to win back to back (twice)


Big Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin winning their 2nd Super Bowl Together @ Super Bowl XLIII on NBC


Super Bowl XXXV MVP Ray Lewis winning his 1st Super Bowl with Coach Brian Billick


Super Bowl XXXV MVP Ray Lewis hugging Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco in New Orleans, LA after winning the Super Bowl


Longtime Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis retires a winner with 2 Super Bowl Rings


Joe Flacco celebrating his 1st Super Bowl Win


John Harbaugh outcoaches his younger brother Jim to win his 1st Super Bowl as Head Coach


Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals; The Battle of the Ohio Players


Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers; THE BIGGEST DOGFIGHT in the AFC NORTH


Browns and Bengals getting ready for battle in the state of Ohio


Super Bowl Champions Joe Flacco and Big Ben Roethlisberger preparing for WAR in the AFC North


Stacy Keibler; Former Ravens Cheerleader and Former WCW/WWE Valet turned TV Personality

[MrCleveland]

The biggest issue for the AFC North is The Browns!

Cleveland Teams just plain suck! I can't even watch their games, I've lost all hope with the Cleveland Indians that I call them The Cleveland Idiots...and The Browns...or as I like to call them The Cleveland Frowns...should get good players and learn how to play football!

[simmytbone]

Well Mr Cleveland, listen to this from Super Bowl Champion Coach turned NFL Network Commentator Brian Billick

He had something to say about Johnny Manziel

Here it is:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...or-development

Johnny Manziel must show Browns potential for development
By Brian Billick
NFL Media analyst
Published: Dec. 17, 2014 at 01:40 p.m. Updated: Dec. 18, 2014 at 11:33 a.m.

Fate owes the Cleveland Browns a few breaks.

Since rebooting in 1999, the franchise has been on a long slog of disappointment. The Browns could write a thesis on first-round mistakes in the draft (Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, William Green, Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden). They've been plagued by internal problems since returning, from staph infections in the locker room to bickering in the front office. They have gone from one coach to another, and from one quarterback to another. The only thing that has stayed the same are those classic uniforms (which are changing next year, thanks to Nike). They've made one playoff appearance since version 2.0 began, an exciting loss to the rival Steelers in the 2002 Wild Card Round.


This past May, Cleveland wheeled and dealed on draft day, snagging Johnny Manziel in the back half of the first round. Fans could once again hope that better days were ahead. While Manziel had been heavily questioned ahead of the draft -- for both his play on the field and his antics off it -- he had won a Heisman Trophy and posted back-to-back stellar seasons at Texas A&M.

New coach Mike Pettine began the season with established hometown boy Brian Hoyer, who had shown promise in 2013 before suffering a season-ending injury. But in the first 13 games of 2014, the journeyman sputtered to a 76.3 QB rating, with 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a lowly 55.3 percent completion rate. Finally, after Hoyer completed just 13 of his 30 passes (with no touchdowns and two interceptions) in a loss to the Colts that dropped the Browns to 7-6, Pettine decided it was time to look to the future of the franchise. He put Manziel into the lineup for a big divisional showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. Hoyer and the Browns had beaten the Bengals 24-3 in Cincy one month prior. Now it was up to a rookie quarterback -- making his first NFL start -- to repeat that feat and keep Cleveland's playoff hopes alive.

You know what happened next.

If you were seeking a highlight tape to prove why Manziel should not have been a first-round pick, this game film would suffice. He was indecisive, inaccurate and unable to generate something out of nothing. The Browns were shut out, 30-0, and Manziel completed 10 of his 18 passes for a measly 80 yards, with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Cleveland went 1 for 10 on third down, had six three-and-out drives and finished with 107 total yards of offense (the lowest total in the NFL this season). The one series in which the Browns did move the ball -- a 10-play, 51-yard march in the second quarter -- ended with an interception in the end zone.

Manziel, not for the first time, looked like a guy who was more famous than good, someone who wasn't worthy of the considerable hype that surrounds him, or the considerable attitude he brings to the table. In a word, he was terrible.

But it was only one game. Lots of good pro quarterbacks were awful in their first start. Pettine has made it clear that the Browns will stick with Manziel for the rest of the season. That's as it should be. But the clock is now ticking, and Cleveland brass faces one burning question: Does Manziel have any chance of developing into a real pro quarterback?

Because Manziel was such a good improvisational quarterback in college, there's a temptation to spread out the offense now and "let Johnny be Johnny." You could certainly do that -- the Browns are essentially out of the playoff hunt, and Manziel can be an exciting player. But when he was running circles around college football opponents, he wasn't being chased by guys like Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs. So that approach is likely to get Johnny Football maimed, and it also wouldn't tell you much about his potential to pilot a pro offense over the long haul.

What Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan need to do is structure an offense that will give them some clue as to whether Manziel has any hope of growing into an NFL signal-caller. While he's capable of doing some exciting things outside the design of the offense, the question remains: Can he develop those skills that actually give his team a chance of winning in this league?

Manziel proponents will say he could be another Russell Wilson. It is my guess that this was the evaluation made when the Browns traded up into the 22nd pick of the 2014 NFL Draft (giving up the 26th and 83rd picks to do so). Pettine, who was on my staff in Baltimore, might have envisioned developing a league-leading defense (like Wilson has in Seattle), committing to the run game and having a quarterback who could deliver a 20-touchdown/10-interception season.

Manziel reminds me more of Troy Smith than Wilson. In Baltimore, we drafted Smith out of Ohio State in 2007. Smith won the Heisman Trophy, like Manziel, and possessed a similar skill set when he entered the draft process. The difference is, we took Smith in the fifth round, not the first, viewing him as a multi-tooled project who could do a lot of different things. Like Manziel, Smith had terrific athletic ability and eye-popping collegiate production, but he lacked the skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.

Now, Pettine and his staff face an unenviable task: They have just two games to determine whether or not to put the offense -- and likely, their jobs -- in the hands of Manziel going forward in 2015. And if not, they'll have to tell Browns fans, once again, that their answer at the quarterback position -- and consequently, the key to organizational success -- lies elsewhere, perhaps in yet another first-round pick.

Personally, I am looking for just that one thing that will give me some hope. I am not overly ambitious. I would be happy with Manziel showing enough respect for the game -- and his teammates -- to not make the silly, self-serving "money" sign with his fingers after he scores a touchdown. That would give me a sign, for the first time, that there's a chance he can actually become a legitimate pro quarterback.

credit: nfl.com

and here's another one:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/28/joh...-brian-billick

Brian Billick rips Johnny Manziel's chances of surviving in NFL

Former NFL head coach Brian Billick ripped Johnny Manziel's chances of surviving in the NFL on Wednesday.

Manziel recently completed his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback started two games late in the season before sustaining an injury that put him on injured reserve.

I've seen absolutely nothing in demeanor or skill set to indicate Johnny Manziel has any chance of surviving in this game," said Billick.

The 22-year-old lost a preseason quarterback battle with veteran Brian Hoyer in August. Manziel threw for 175 yards, two interceptions and one rushing touchdown in his limited play in 2014.

After an ESPN.com story last week quoted an anonymous Browns player as saying the rookie quarterback thought the entire season was a "100 percent joke," Browns players Karlos Dansby and Joe Haden defended Manziel on Wednesday.

"Rookie seasons, they go however, but I think Johnny really understands what he needs to do to be successful," Haden said.

Manziel won the Heisman Trophy while at Texas A&M after throwing for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushing for another 1,410 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2012.

Billick was the Baltimore Ravens head coach from 1999-2007.

- Molly Geary

credit: si.com

[MrCleveland]

^I think Johnny Leadfoot is overrated!

When he made his debut against the Bengals...it was like the whole damn city of Cleveland might as well been The Butt of America! The Mistake-on-the-Lake is STILL our sports teams!