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BROWNS
Crennel sounding defeated
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Thoroughly frustrated and fresh out of answers, Browns coach Romeo Crennel is sounding like Chris Palmer at a similar stage.
Will he meet the same fate as the first expansion-era Browns coach, fired after two seasons? Maybe not, but he seems just as defeated.
Extras
Asked what he told the team after Sunday's 22-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Crennel said, "I told them we didn't play very good and I'm sorry I didn't do a better job coaching them."
The Browns sank to 4-11, falling to a three-win team that was down to its third quarterback. It was the second consecutive Christmas Eve home debacle under Crennel's watch — less offensive than last year's 41-0 loss to the Steelers perhaps, but still unsightly.
Last week, Crennel uncharacteristically lashed out at the media — sometimes a sign that a coach is becoming unspooled.
"He's frustrated; we're all frustrated," tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. said. "We're letting him down."
Fans saw two wins this season at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Gone now is the possibility of matching last season's win total of six. Crennel takes a two-year record of 10-21 into Sunday's season finale at Houston.
Winslow's woes
Derek Anderson did not have his best game Sunday, but not all of the quarterback's four interceptions were his fault.
One glanced off Winslow's hands. It appeared catchable. Less so was the one Anderson threw high to Winslow toward the sideline. Winslow said his surgical knee prevented him from jumping high enough to pull it down or prevent the interception.
"I can't jump how I want sometimes," Winslow said. "I can't get up as high as I want right now."
Wimbley's a hit
Kamerion Wimbley's two sacks Sunday gave the outside linebacker 10, breaking Mack Mitchell's rookie franchise record. Mitchell's mark of eight had stood since 1975.
Anyone quit?
It's unlikely any players "quit" Sunday. With so many starters injured, backups were playing for jobs next season. "I don't know if anybody gave up," Wimbley said. "I think everybody that I saw was giving effort."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.
