Another write-up to be taken with a grain of salt

[NFLMAN]

Reading articles that I found on a google search today, it appears as if Romeo Crennel's days in Cleveland may be numbered. He is taking all of the blame for the teams flat performance this year. Word is he is just to soft on his players, which brings to mind a time this year when he rescinded a one-game team suspension for Kellen Winslow. The footprint of a coach soft on discipline.

The only times that Cleveland has shown any motivation this year was when the motif was brought by the players themselves. There was the Monday night eruption over the NY Giants when Winslow's testicle's blew up like balloons. Then there was the win in Buffalo that came after an incident in which the players were fighting in the locker room because Jamal Lewis accused certain players of quitting on the team during the previous loss to Denver.

I get the hunch that the Browns players like this Mr. Softy head coach very much and this Sunday we will see another big effort from them. Can they beat Indianapolis? I see certain indicators predicting exactly that...

Center Jeff Saturday will miss his first game this year for the Colts, and I have bet against several teams this year that were missing their starting center for the first time this season. There was the game in Dallas yesterday where Chris Spencer suddenly was downgraded to inactive shortly before game time. There was the game in London where the Chargers went in without their starting center. It's an injury report trend that is either hot or cold every year in the NFL.

Not only that, but I see that the Colts will be without two of their best defensive backs. Bob Sanders, to name one, will miss his second game. Antoine Bethea will also miss this game.
These are two defensive backs that the Colts really can't afford to lose. Especially not against the Browns receivers! And especially not with Derek Anderson anxious for another chance to prove himself. Here is where he can increase his value as a free agent, now that Brady Quinn has stolen the show.

That is handicapping at it's best.

There is also an indicator that tells me that Browns will win this game too. When a team has to go without one of their tight ends, the team wins. This indicator doesn't make a lot of sense. How can missing a tight end have anything to do with winning? It's just one of the injury report trends that I call an indicator because it means nothing else. However, the Browns second string tight end is out Sunday and it is time sensitive that he should be out for this game.

The Browns defensive line will also be ready Sunday. I have been watching the injury report on these guys and they are practicing steadily, so we need not worry that the Browns will be soft on the defensive front. All of their superstar pass rushers are healthy again which adds to the fact that the Colts will miss their starting center.

I am not going to overlook the Peyton Manning factor. That is why the main bet is on the pointspread. The NFL showed us last week that they want Manning in the playoffs for ratings. Unsurprising that he couldn't have gotten more help from the officials in San Diego. We may see the NFL once again diminishing the game's integrity for the want of a few extra viewers.

Browns +4.5
Browns +185

[sleep88]

nice write up. GL with the browns. like the points but ML scares me to death because I think your exactly right Peyton is needed in playoffs so I think colts win a squeaker.

[Sparty]

Great writeup, agree on the Browns. Good luck

[THE_ROOKIEEE]

Indy Wins...... Browns Probably Cover The 4.5....best Of Luck On Your Play

[NFLMAN]

Yep you called it rookiee

adding late play san diego -6.5