From Bleacher Report review of ESPN Rankings... ESPN Rank: 28 Why They're Better Than That:...

From Bleacher Report review of ESPN Rankings...

ESPN Rank: 28

Why They're Better Than That: Really, ESPN? Really?

The 1-5 Cowboys are ranked higher than the 2-5 Browns?

You know...the Cleveland Browns that play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL?

The Cleveland Browns that killed the New Orleans Saints?

Please.

I'm a Steelers fan, but I can still recognize the talent the Browns have in Peyton Hillis, Joshua Cribbs and even rookie quarterback Colt McCoy.

And don't get me started on that D!

Sometimes I think ESPN feels like they have to rank the Browns lower because "they're the Browns."

Open your eyes, boys.

The Brownies are a much better team than No. 28.

over 1 year ago Spidey 26 comments 0 recs |

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Sometimes I think ESPN feels like they have to rank the Browns lower because “they’re the Browns.”

That’s obviously correct. And the flipside is the Cowboys get a higher rating because “they’re the Cowboys”, ie they’re a team that generally has been consistently competitive in the playoff race for close to two decades. We, on the other hand, have generally not been in the playoff race for close to two decades, other than a couple of random seasons that we didn’t follow up on.

Until we consistently put together a good team, we not going to get ESPN and others to change that practice and earn the respect we think we deserve.

"There are a lot of Steelers fans around the city so I hope people go to work and kick those Steelers fans.’’ - Josh Cribbs.

by TheDriveStillHurts on Oct 27, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

If the Browns and the Cowboys were to face each other this Sunday, who would win? Pretty simple, and I would expect the Browns to win. I mean, we’re talking about John Kitna here!

If ESPN is basing their evaluation on “respect” then that makes them even lazier than most outlets.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Oct 27, 2010 2:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

If the Browns and the Cowboys were to face each other this Sunday, who would win? Pretty simple, and I would expect the Browns to win.

Absolutely. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Anderception [an·der·cep·tion] -noun
1. the logical end result of a Derek Anderson pass

by Simmsinns on Oct 27, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. If you somehow made the teams anonymous and showed records, and stats for each team, almost everyone would take the 2-5 browns over the 1-5 cowboys…but it isn’t anonymous and you can’t hide the emblem on your jersey.

I agree with your analysis about playoffs. its more about public perception than it is truly about “power rankings”. ESPN is like any major media outlet; there to appeal to appeal to the public and the public’s perception about the “truth” and “facts” and they have no obligation and little incentive to appeal to the intellectual truth.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Oct 27, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. If you somehow made the teams anonymous and showed records, and stats for each team, almost everyone would take the 2-5 browns over the 1-5 cowboys…but it isn’t anonymous and you can’t hide the emblem on your jersey.

I’m not so sure.

I know going into Monday Night the Cowboys had a top 5 offense and defense.

by Bernie19Kosar on Oct 27, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I’m not sure about this either. Their offense is without a doubt better than ours, but our defense is better. I’m not so sure if it’s clear which team is better overall right now. I know this is a Browns blog so most people here will think the Browns are better, but I’m not sure if an objective fan would agree. Their coaching is a mess but they certainly have more talent than we do.

. . . says the man from Columbus.

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 27, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

no question they have more talent then us, I just think that we are overall playing a bit better.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Oct 27, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think the talent gap is that large, pretty close overall. They have more talent at the glamour positions, which is why the general public is shocked at their record, but you can’t win with a really bad offensive line and defense that can’t guard anyone.

by Roger Dorn on Oct 28, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

This. I noticed the more astute observers calling for the o-line problem to be a catalyst in their demise before the season even began.

Anderception [an·der·cep·tion] -noun
1. the logical end result of a Derek Anderson pass

by Simmsinns on Oct 28, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe I exagerrated with “almost everyone”, but it makes the decision easier definitely when one team is the Cowboys.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Oct 27, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s time to jumpstart the “Power Rankings Of All Kinds In All Sports Are Meaningless” meme once more. Why should anyone give a rip about how any talking heads ranks the teams in any sport with an actual playoff?

"If Brown is the answer, then you’re asking the wrong question." - Ryan

by woodsmeister on Oct 27, 2010 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Blame it on the bye week. With all respect to Mr. Lerner, he is a boring interview. So this is the result…

I will say in my defense for posting this link- it is a “review” of the ratings that tries to add some meaning to the meaninglessness.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin

by Spidey on Oct 27, 2010 4:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Power rankings are not so much adding meaning to the meaninglessness but generating controversy out of nothingness. They’re not worth getting worked up about. The NFL has playoffs to determine the best team in the league for any one given year.

"If Brown is the answer, then you’re asking the wrong question." - Ryan

by woodsmeister on Oct 27, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

This.

"There are a lot of Steelers fans around the city so I hope people go to work and kick those Steelers fans.’’ - Josh Cribbs.

by TheDriveStillHurts on Oct 27, 2010 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ve been saying this for a long time. All this complaining about where we rank in the power rankings and us “getting no respect” is pointless. The power rankings are meaningless, and every team’s fans thinks their team is ranked too low in the power rankings (except whoever is in first) and they’re not getting enough respect.

. . . says the man from Columbus.

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 27, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Here are my Power Rankings Of All Kinds In All Sports:

1. Rafael Nadal
2. The Spanish national soccer team
3. The Steelers
4. Jimmy Johnson
5. The San Francisco Giants
6. The Oxes, of the Raleigh, NC Triangle Adult Soccer coed D league
7. Esther Vergeer

"Have you ever thought about love????"

by Chemo on Oct 28, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

No, no, no! You’ve got it all wrong, probably because of your secret hatred for Scotty Nguyen.

But the most obvious is that Esther Vergeer could destroy the The Steelers if they ever faced each other. Your bias bleeds through your rankings.

Anderception [an·der·cep·tion] -noun
1. the logical end result of a Derek Anderson pass

by Simmsinns on Oct 28, 2010 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Esther really should be number one, to be honest.

"Have you ever thought about love????"

by Chemo on Oct 29, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The UConn women basketball team must be on there somewhere.

. . . says the man from Columbus.

by Buckeye Brad on Oct 28, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

its not even fair to put them on a list like this. the rest of these people suffered a loss since the stock market crashed (not the 1929 crash)

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.
Intensive Purposes? I could care less...
your whole argument is a fallacy!

by bross09 on Oct 29, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

The spanish national team doesn’t have squat on the Oxes.

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway

by notthatnoise on Oct 29, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The Oxes beat my Renegades 3-0. It was a rough game.

"Have you ever thought about love????"

by Chemo on Oct 29, 2010 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

how is michael jordan’s cartoon basketball team from Space Jam not on that list? c’mon, man!

by Dawg Nuts on Oct 29, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

3rd rock bias.

They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best

About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback

I understand, as a big daddy come and take my spot type of demeanor?

by mooncamping on May 14, 2010 7:24 AM EDT

by Villeslgr on Oct 30, 2010 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

What have Michael and Bugs won since 1996? Anything?! They’re yesterday’s news.

"Have you ever thought about love????"

by Chemo on Nov 1, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

if you look at point differential. the 1-5 lions are plus 6 and the 4-2 texans are negative 14. Good teams find a way to win and bad teams find a way to lose.

by browns8 on Oct 27, 2010 6:40 PM EDT reply actions