NFL Week 9 Power Rankings and the Cleveland Browns

2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9
www.espn.com
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (2) Saints 7-0-0 Another week, another victory for the most complete team in the NFL through Week 8. (Sando)
2 (1) Colts 7-0-0 Is the toughest month of the 2009 schedule about to begin with a visit from the Texans? (Kuharsky)
3 (4) Vikings 7-1-0 Brett Favre has wish No. 1 this season: revenge. (Chadiha)
4 (3) Broncos 6-1-0 The bounce-back game after the first loss is another tough one: home against Pittsburgh. (Kuharsky)
5 (5) Patriots 5-2-0 Enjoying a bye after a romp in London, the Patriots didn't have to do anything to open up ground in the AFC East. (Clayton)
6 (6) Bengals 5-2-0 They can make a statement the next two weeks with games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. (Chadiha)
7 (7) Steelers 5-2-0 A week off shouldn't slow their momentum after four straight victories. (Chadiha)
8 (9) Cowboys 5-2-0 Don't look now, but the Cowboys are quietly sneaking up on people and playing like a playoff team. (Clayton)
9 (12) Eagles 5-2-0 The young legs of LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson have the Eagles' offense soaring. (Clayton)
10 (14) Ravens 4-3-0 They're celebrating a big victory over Denver, breaking a three-game losing streak. (Chadiha)
11 (11) Falcons 4-3-0 Despite recent troubles, the Falcons seem like a strong wild-card candidate from the NFC. (Sando)
12 (13) Packers 4-3-0 Aaron Rodgers is starting to show signs of his season-long beating. (Chadiha)
13 (10) Cardinals 4-3-0 The Cardinals take a 3-0 road record to Soldier Field, where a victory would help their cause immensely. (Sando)
14 (17) Texans 5-3-0 The upcoming trip to Indianapolis is only the most significant game in franchise history. (Kuharsky)
15 (8) Giants 5-3-0 The Giants entered Week 8 with the league's top-ranked defense, but it played like No. 32. (Clayton)
16 (16) Chargers 4-3-0 They could be catching the struggling Giants at just the right time. (Kuharsky)
17 (18) Bears 4-3-0 Like everyone else, they loved seeing the Browns on the schedule. (Chadiha)
18 (15) Jets 4-4-0 If the Jets were to win a national lottery, the winning ticket would fly out of their office and land with the Dolphins. (Clayton)
19 (20) 49ers 3-4-0 Opening up the offense could be tougher with left tackle Joe Staley on the injured list for six weeks. (Sando)
20 (19) Dolphins 3-4-0 After a week in which Ted Ginn was grim, his two kickoff returns for touchdowns have Dolphins fans wearing grins. (Clayton)
21 (21) Jaguars 3-4-0 A home date with the unattractive Chiefs is not going to be the game that ends the blackout run. (Kuharsky)
22 (22) Bills 3-5-0 The best part about the Bills' bye week is that no one will get a chance to see the Bills' offense. (Clayton)
23 (24) Panthers 3-4-0 It's amazing how good the Panthers can seem when Jake Delhomme throws to his own guys instead. (Sando)
24 (23) Seahawks 2-5-0 A home date against the Lions should let Seattle feel good about itself again, if only for a week. (Sando)
25 (25) Redskins 2-5-0 No consultants were hired during the bye week, so things were quiet in D.C. (Clayton)
26 (29) Titans 1-6-0 The 49ers likely will offer significantly more resistance than the Jaguars did. (Kuharsky)
27 (27) Raiders 2-6-0 What can the Raiders do during the bye week to improve the state of things? (Kuharsky)
28 (28) Chiefs 1-6-0 The Jaguars' limited pass rush could give Matt Cassel time to find some big plays. (Kuharsky)
29 (26) Lions 1-6-0 A loss to St. Louis is a step in the wrong direction. (Chadiha)
30 (32) Rams 1-7-0 No one in the league is playing more commendably than Rams running back Steven Jackson. (Sando)
31 (30) Browns 1-7-0 It's about time somebody got fired for this disaster. (Chadiha)
32 (31) Buccaneers 0-7-0 This is officially the worst team in the league now that the Rams have finally won a game. (Sando)




NFL Power Rankings after week 8
www.sportsline.com
Current Team Previous
1 Colts · Trends 1
They didn't look great against the 49ers, but they found a way. That's what good teams do. It has to be good having Bob Sanders back again.
2 Saints · Trends 2
It was a little bit of a struggle against the Falcons, but the schedule is favorable the rest of the way, to say the least. Is an undefeated season possible?
3 Vikings · Trends 4
They have a real hold on the division after sweeping the Packers. They really are a balanced team and Brett Favre is coming off a big game. There, I said it. Aside from the Steelers game, he is playing well.
4 Broncos · Trends 3
After their first loss, here come the champions. The Pittsburgh Steelers will provide another stiff test for the Broncos. They need to throw it better. Period.
5 Patriots · Trends 5
They come off the bye with a chance to take a real hold of the division by beating Miami. You know they'll be ready for the Wildcat.
6 Bengals · Trends 6
At 5-2 after their bye, they get a rematch with the Ravens this week. They can throw it better now than when they beat them the first time, which should help.
7 Steelers · Trends 7
They can show they are back with a road victory at Denver. The bye week gives them a little edge heading into that one, although Denver will be angry coming off its first loss.
8 Eagles · Trends 8
We get Eagles-Cowboys this week for first place in the NFC East. That should be fun. The Eagles are rolling after that Oakland disaster two weeks ago.
9 Cowboys · Trends 11
Is it time to stop ripping on Tony Romo? He's playing some of his best football. The defense, which was a problem much of the season, is playing better.
10 Ravens · Trends 14
They had to beat Denver to save their season, but now they get a big one against the Bengals on the road. To have a real chance to win the division, they need that one.
11 Cardinals · Trends 9
Can anybody figure this team out? They play well on the road and stink it up at home. Good thing they're on the road this week.
12 Giants · Trends 10
They are an example of how fast things can go bad in the NFL. If that defense doesn't play better soon, they could be playoff-less.
13 Texans · Trends 16
The improvement of the defense to go with that passing game has really helped this team. They do have a lot of premium talent on the defensive side of the ball.
14 Chargers · Trends 17
They seemed to right things the past two weeks, but now must head east to play a desperate Giants team. That won't be easy.
15 Falcons · Trends 12
They played well at New Orleans, especially in the second half, and the schedule gets easier now. They are a good 4-3 team.
16 Packers · Trends 13
Boy that offensive line is bad. If they don't improve there, Aaron Rodgers doesn't stand a chance.
17 Bears · Trends 19
Nothing like the Cleveland Browns to provide the perfect potion for all that ails a team. Facing Arizona at home this week won't be as easy.
18 Dolphins · Trends 22
That wasn't pretty against the Jets, but they found a way. Now they have to go to New England, with a chance to get back into the race. Playing two consecutive road games is tough.
19 Jets · Trends 15
There is no way they should have lost to the Dolphins at home, but at 4-4 they have been way too inconsistent. How about some special-teams work this week?
20 Jaguars · Trends 18
They will be a .500 team at best. The defense isn't very good, so they will play a lot of high-scoring games. The good news is they have a winnable game against Kansas City this week.
21 Panthers · Trends 24
Was that a job saver for coach John Fox and a season saver last week in Arizona? It was a big win, but those two things are still to be decided.
22 49ers · Trends 20
Playing close isn't good enough. They have to start winning those kinds of games. It's hard when they're limited on offense.
23 Bills · Trends 21
The run defense is really bad and they don't have the offense to make up for it. Did you ever think they would long to get Trent Edwards back so much?
24 Seahawks · Trends 23
They've been a major disappointment in a lot of people's minds. But the injuries have crippled this team. It's a tough first year for Jim Mora Jr.
25 Raiders · Trends 25
At least they showed up and competed against the Chargers. It's more than they did the previous week. Wonder how Tom Cable's troubles will affect the team?
26 Chiefs · Trends 26
They come off their bye with the Larry Johnson saga hanging over their heads. Something they need more of: Better play from Matt Cassel.
27 Redskins · Trends 27
Did they fix things during the bye? Is Jim Zorn safe now that he made it through the week off? Can they turn it around? Doubtful.
28 Rams · Trends 31
They won. They won. They won. After 17 consecutive losses, they should celebrate. Steven Jackson is having a good year for a bad team.
29 Titans · Trends 32
The move to Vince Young paid off. Yeah, as long as Chris Johnson runs for 228, it paid off. They did show more life coming off their bye in winning for the first time.
30 Lions · Trends 28
Losing to the Rams drops them down a few spots. They are competing, which is a good sign for this young team.
31 Browns · Trends 29
Does this team need a bye or what? Do they really have to play out the season with that offense?
32 Buccaneers · Trends 30
The Josh Freeman Era begins, and it's the right thing to do. They have to get him going for the future. Why wait?

The Cleveland Browns: JOKE!
The Browns are a certifiable train wreck now. That much we know, in the wake of the departure of general manager George Kokinis from the organization. I've heard the ESPN report that the Browns are investigating firing Kokinis "for cause,'' which means he may have done something untoward to get him canned. And let me say that in conversations with three front-office people in the league who know Kokinis well, I could hear their jaws drop when that nugget was relayed. I know Kokinis, but I'm not close to him. Those who are describe him the way you'd describe a trusted friend and honest to a fault. So we'll see where this leads.

The problem as I see it is this organization careens from one disaster to the next. If owner Randy Lerner trusts Eric Mangini, he's got to take the slings and arrows of a furious fandom and let Mangini try to fix this huge mess. If he doesn't, Lerner has to fire Mangini, issue a mea culpa, and hire the next franchise leader.

The one thing that's maddening is the Browns owe former GM Phil Savage and ex-coach Romeo Crennel their salaries through 2012 and 2011, respectively. There are other lingering contract payouts from the assistants on Crennel's staff. It's a pill of at least $20 million Lerner is swallowing, and if he cans Mangini -- in the first year of an estimated four-year, $12-million deal -- it just adds to the financial mayhem.


Mangini won't discuss GM's exit
www.si.com
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- The convoluted ouster of George Kokinis as Cleveland's general manager barely made a ripple in the Browns' locker room.
These guys are accustomed to losses.
Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas hardly knew Kokinis, who was hired in January and left the club under unexplained circumstances on Monday.
"He wasn't around too much, and when he was, he was pretty quiet," Thomas said.
Everyone inside team headquarters at 76 Lou Groza Blvd. was pretty quiet on Tuesday. The Browns, who have a bye this week, went about their business as rumors swirled about Kokinis, the events that led up to his departure and who -- or if -- anyone will replace him.
Browns coach Eric Mangini offered no details about the team's decision to move on without his longtime friend and hand-picked GM.
"Anytime a decision like this is made it is difficult personally and professionally," Mangini said. "George is a friend of mine and I respect him and I wish his family well. I can tell you that for a variety of reasons things didn't work out. You never go into a situation like this with the intention of it not working out.
"We felt that, organizationally, this was the best decision in order to move forward."
That was about as deep as Mangini would venture into the Kokinis matter. Mangini spent most of his news conference politely deflecting questions about why the decision was made.
He was asked if there were legal reasons why he couldn't address Kokinis' exit.
"There's really a variety of reasons," he said, "and I'll just leave it at that."
Browns owner Randy Lerner, who following Sunday's loss in Chicago said he planned to hire a "serious, credible" football authority to help run his fumbling franchise, was not available for comment. A team spokesman said there was no immediate plans for Lerner to address the media.
Lerner did spend two hours meeting with two disgruntled season-ticket holders, who have been urging Cleveland fans to stay out of their seats for the Nov. 16 kickoff against Baltimore in protest of the team's futility. "Dawg Pound Mike" Randall said Lerner was open to their ideas and gave them a few of his own.
"He's trying to get the Browns on the right track," Randall said. "He wants it to happen now. He cares deeply."
It's still not known if Kokinis was fired or forced out by the Browns, who are 1-7 and have been overmatched in most of their games.
There are reports that Kokinis was asked to resign by Lerner, who pressed the former GM and sought to dismiss him "for cause." Citing a team source, ESPN.com reported that the team's security and legal department were reviewing phone records to build its case against Kokinis.
The Browns denied reports that Kokinis was escorted from the building on Monday.
As for a possible replacement for Kokinis, Mangini would not comment when asked if former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar might handle some of the GM's responsibilities. Kosar was recently brought in by Lerner in an unspecified consulting role that could expand.
Also, the team has not addressed reports that former Browns and New York Giants GM Ernie Accorsi, a close friend of Lerner's, might return to Cleveland in some capacity. Accorsi helped Lerner search for a GM earlier this year and has been working as a consultant for the NFL since retiring in 2007.
Mangini said he would not be resistant to the Browns giving final personnel decisions to someone else in the future.
"My goal is to win and my goal is to improve," he said. "There's never opposition to someone that can help us achieve that goal. That's true here. It was true in New York with the Jets."
Mangini said he learned under coaching mentors Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick the benefits of being open to the opinions of others.
"You appreciate the feedback," he said. "You appreciate the honesty. You appreciate people trying to constantly improve at what they're doing or constantly help the group improve. You want to hire as many people as you possibly can like that."
Mangini and Kokinis began their careers together working under Belichick, when New England's coach was with the Browns in the 1990s.
Their breakup as a management team came less than a year after former GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel were dismissed after failing to make Cleveland a consistent winner.
Kokinis' parting is just more of the same for the Browns.
"It doesn't affect me," tight end Steve Heiden said. "I can speak for myself on this because I've been here a while and I've seen some changes. I can't control anything that goes on anywhere else besides at this locker. That's the truth and that's all I'm trying to do.
"I'm in my bubble and I'm staying there."


Fan: Lerner 'doing everything he can'
BEREA, Ohio -- Die-hard Browns fan Mike Randall made sure he put on his Sunday best for his important meeting with team owner Randy Lerner.
He wore a giant plastic dog bone hat.
The season-ticket holder, aka "Dawg Pound Mike," one of the best known members of Cleveland's rabid bleacher section of fans, spent two hours on Tuesday meeting with Lerner, who stepped away from a turbulent week and his busy schedule for the visit.
Randall and his friend, Tony Schafer, have been encouraging others to stay out of their seats for the opening kickoff of Cleveland's next home game on Nov. 16 to protest the Browns' futility. The fans were scheduled to spend 30 minutes with Lerner but ended up staying much longer.
"It was great," Randall said. "How many owners would spend two hours meeting with two fans? None."
Randall said Lerner was receptive to their ideas for improving the Browns' game-day experience at Cleveland Browns Stadium and even tossed out a few of his own. Randall, who has met Lerner several times, came away impressed with the owner's passion and determination to get the Browns turned around.
"He's doing everything he can to improve the Browns," Randall said. "He wants it to happen -- now."
Lerner's meeting with the fans came less than 24 hours after general manager George Kokinis was removed from his job, the latest upheaval for a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since 1999 and is on its fourth head coach in 10 years.
The camera-shy Lerner has yet to address the circumstances surrounding Kokinis' departure.
Randall said Lerner liked the fans' idea for displaying some of the team's championship banners and retired jersey numbers inside the stadium. Lerner also seemed unaware of the strict security measures in place at the stadium, a zero-tolerance policy that has upset some Cleveland fans.
"He's a fan, just like us," Randall said. "He wants what's best for Cleveland and I believe him. He wants to win."
Randall said he and Schafer are going forward with the "Brown out" protest despite their meeting with Lerner. They will consider canceling it if Lerner agrees to speak to Browns fans, who walked out by the thousands during the second half of a recent home loss to Green Bay.
Randall said he presented Lerner with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that he felt best summed up his desire to have Browns fans heard.
"It says, 'In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing,'" Randall said. "Randy liked that. We're doing something. So is he."