Just learned something new, prolly old news to Browns fans

[shovelheadt 72]

Watching an NFL Network show focusing on Bernie Kosar. I didn't realize that Belichick basically cut this guy at age 29 (pretty much his prime), middle of the season, team in first place...because he drew up a play in the dirt that went for a TD. At least that's the NFL Network version of the story. So Kosar rolls over to Dallas, learns the playbook in 72 hours and wins the game for the Cowboys. He ends up getting a ring in the process.

 

Was this the beginning of Cleveland's tailspin? If so, I'm betting BB is one hated mofo in Cleveland..right behind Modell.

[TheGambinoCrimeFamily 0]

I thought Bernie got dumped because he couldnt even sling the ball 35 yards.

Or was it because he was a freakin statue in the pocket.

[Rookie QB 0]

I thought Bernie got dumped because he couldnt even sling the ball 35 yards.

Or was it because he was a freakin statue in the pocket.

 

 

What does Al Davis say..... Just win baby!

[Wildman 0]

Watching an NFL Network show focusing on Bernie Kosar. I didn't realize that Belichick basically cut this guy at age 29 (pretty much his prime), middle of the season, team in first place...because he drew up a play in the dirt that went for a TD. At least that's the NFL Network version of the story. So Kosar rolls over to Dallas, learns the playbook in 72 hours and wins the game for the Cowboys. He ends up getting a ring in the process.

 

Was this the beginning of Cleveland's tailspin? If so, I'm betting BB is one hated mofo in Cleveland..right behind Modell.

 

 

Yep they gave up on Kosar and traded away Byner for essentially a kick returner that wasn't very good. Kosar was an excellent QB when he had time. He actually had a good enough arm and threw a very accurate deep ball. Belicheck needed time to mature as a coach. He made a ton of mistakes in Cleveland, but to his credit he learned from them. Mainly, he needed to learn about dealing with players.

[Boston 0]

If you read Halberstam's book you'll learn the real story here. The Bernie Kosar that BB cut was not the Bernie Kosar that had been a top of the line QB. BB definetly had major PR issues in Cleveland and cutting Kosar was one of them. The decision to cut Kosar caused a lot of friction with the fans and media because he was still an icon but as far as football goes it was the right decision because Kosar was pretty much washed up at this point.

 

Here is a quote from the book:

 

"You can be right, but sometimes when you are right you are wrong, too, which is what happened in Cleveland. There was no doubt Belichick was right, that Kosar had essentially come to the end of his career, and that in any big game, a skilled defensive coach with a competent team could feast off of Kosar's weaknesses. But the brutality of the way it was done was unacceptable. Years later, Belichick faulted himself on the way he handled it. He left those passionate local fans who might have agreed with him no place to go. He thought he was just doing his job , but he had been mistaken; he had defined his job too narrowly."

 

Here's a quote from Rod Woodson about Kosar at the time:

 

"He's not mobile at all. Now when you look at them on your schedule, you're putting a W down before you play, because you think their offense isn't mobile either."

 

The funny thing about this is BB faced a pretty similar situation in New England but the results of that one have turned out to be far more successful for both BB and his team.

[shovelheadt 72]

The funny thing about this is BB faced a pretty similar situation in New England but the results of that one have turned out to be far more successful for both BB and his team.

 

C'mon, the football gods made that decision for him. Starter suffers a major injury after going 0-2, backup wins like 7 in a row or something. Starter is on the downside of career, backup is rookie. Bledsoe's mom could have made that call.

[JoeRedneck 3]

If you read Halberstam's book you'll learn the real story here. The Bernie Kosar that BB cut was not the Bernie Kosar that had been a top of the line QB. BB definetly had major PR issues in Cleveland and cutting Kosar was one of them. The decision to cut Kosar caused a lot of friction with the fans and media because he was still an icon but as far as football goes it was the right decision because Kosar was pretty much washed up at this point.

 

Here is a quote from the book:

 

"You can be right, but sometimes when you are right you are wrong, too, which is what happened in Cleveland. There was no doubt Belichick was right, that Kosar had essentially come to the end of his career, and that in any big game, a skilled defensive coach with a competent team could feast off of Kosar's weaknesses. But the brutality of the way it was done was unacceptable. Years later, Belichick faulted himself on the way he handled it. He left those passionate local fans who might have agreed with him no place to go. He thought he was just doing his job , but he had been mistaken; he had defined his job too narrowly."

 

Here's a quote from Rod Woodson about Kosar at the time:

 

"He's not mobile at all. Now when you look at them on your schedule, you're putting a W down before you play, because you think their offense isn't mobile either."

 

The funny thing about this is BB faced a pretty similar situation in New England but the results of that one have turned out to be far more successful for both BB and his team.

 

Yep and BB kind of average until Bledsoe's colasped lung.Then Tom Brady became the best cluctch QB ever.Brady never got rattled or made a mistake when it mattered while winning three Super Bowls.And it also help of having Mr.Clutch at kicker.

 

I think Belichick is the bennefactor of a Hall of Hame QB and a kicker with ice in his vains.

[Jdchris81 1]

Just to let you know if your not from cleveland, Kosar could get signed as fryes back up tomorrow and the city of cleveland would rejoice. The man is and always will be an Icon to Cleveland, right behind Jim brown and Lebron James is old #19 Bernie Kosar.

[DBZFan2K 0]

C'mon, the football gods made that decision for him. Starter suffers a major injury after going 0-2, backup wins like 7 in a row or something. Starter is on the downside of career, backup is rookie. Bledsoe's mom could have made that call.

 

Easy to say that now, but at the time he was getting grilled by many people for not being loyal to Bledsoe. Trust me, I've been following the Patriots (along with other local teams) for a long time. Read the Boston Herald every day, listened to WEEI every day. It was kind of a mixed bag but there were a lot of people bashing Belichick and making the comparisons to the Kosar situation in Cleveland. It wasn't until the Patriots won their second Super Bowl that those same detractors began to shut up about Belichick picking the wrong quarterback to lead the franchise.

[Kilroy 0]

Easy to say that now, but at the time he was getting grilled by many people for not being loyal to Bledsoe. Trust me, I've been following the Patriots (along with other local teams) for a long time. Read the Boston Herald every day, listened to WEEI every day. It was kind of a mixed bag but there were a lot of people bashing Belichick and making the comparisons to the Kosar situation in Cleveland. It wasn't until the Patriots won their second Super Bowl that those same detractors began to shut up about Belichick picking the wrong quarterback to lead the franchise.

 

If he stuck with Bledsoe the Pats would have won 4 Super Bowls in a row. Instead BB f'd it up and they only won 3 of 4.

 

[DBZFan2K 0]

Yep and BB kind of average until Bledsoe's colasped lung.Then Tom Brady became the best cluctch QB ever.Brady never got rattled or made a mistake when it mattered while winning three Super Bowls.And it also help of having Mr.Clutch at kicker.

 

I think Belichick is the bennefactor of a Hall of Hame QB and a kicker with ice in his vains.

 

Belichick drafted that Hall of Fame quarterback in the 6th round (of course, not knowing what it would mean) and gave him the vote of confidence in 2001 when it would've been easier to hand the reigns over to the more experienced QB in Damon Huard until Bledsoe recovered. Belichick benefited from many of the savvy Patriots veterans that were on the team but give him credit for getting the most out of them and molding the team from a mediocre franchise to an elite one.

 

If he stuck with Bledsoe the Pats would have won 4 Super Bowls in a row. Instead BB f'd it up and they only won 3 of 4.

 

 

You're wrong. You're DEAD WRONG!

 

It would've been 5 in a row, thank you very much!

[Kilroy 0]

You're wrong. You're DEAD WRONG!

 

It would've been 5 in a row, thank you very much!

 

I agree 100%