By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
YOU KNOW YOUR team has reached a sad point when the owner has to help buy up tickets so a Monday Night game isn’t blacked out.
The Browns, ESPN, Bud Light and WJW-TV reportedly bought up enough tickets so the game could be televised. The tickets will be distributed to local organizations and the USO.
Giving tickets to the USO to be dispensed to troops stirred my Steelers-fan sister-in-law Pauline to comment: “Haven’t they been tortured enough?”
Of course in giving out the tickets, the people may be required to be in their seats when the game starts. A movement is on amongst fans to stay out of their seats when the game opens to make a statement.
I think 1-7 makes a statement. I think the fact that the Browns dumped their GM already makes a statement. I think the fact that players are complaining about how coach Eric Mangini runs the team makes a statement.
That statement is: Get rid of Morongini now.
At least Brady Quinn is back at quarterback. Derek Anderson is bad, but really not as bad as it appears. Known as D.A., he was D.O.A. because besides his ineptness, when you have little blocking and receivers that can’t get open or catch the ball, it doesn’t help.
Maybe Quinn will bring some hope to Browns fans. Not that they will win many games, but he may provide a bright spot for the future.
Cleveland won’t get embarrassed by the Ravens Monday night, but they will lose, 20-16.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a must-win situation when they take on Cincinnati today. The Bengals already beat Pittsburgh once, so to lose to a team twice in your division makes it tough to reach the playoffs.
Because of the lack of parity in the league this year, even wild-card teams may need 11 victories.
The Bengals are for real after several years of futility. Carson Palmer is healthy and having a Pro-Bowl kind of year. Even Ocho Stinko is keeping his mouth shut most of the time.
This game should be a real battle. Pittsburgh looked good Monday night in Denver, but that makes for a short week when you have to fly back across the country and then prepare for a Sunday game.
This will be one of two great games today. In this one, Cincy will pull out a 27-24 victory. Tonight, the Patriots visit undefeated Indy. Tom Brady will have a field day against the Colts defense that is without Sharon’s Marlin Jackson and Erie’s Bob Sanders. Look for the Pats to prevail, 30-20, as they start a run for the Super Bowl.
Last week my picks went 7-6 for a mark of 68-61. Following are the rest of this week’s predictions (betting line in parentheses just for fun):
Dallas (even) over Green Bay
Philly (plus 1) at San Diego
Jacksonville (plus 6) over NY Jets
Detroit (plus 15) over Minnesota (kidding)
Washington (plus 4) over Denver
New Orleans (-14) at St. Louis
Arizona (-71/2) over Seattle
Tennessee (-61/2) over Buffalo
Atlanta (-2) over Carolina
Miami (-9) over Tampa
Oakland (-2) over Kansas City
