"Didn't care much for the Banner & Lombardi combo either but nothing says it can't work with them."

-- The record is what matters. The rest is just fodder for talk or hand-wringing. 

"Randy did nothing but fill a toilet bowl with turds that needed to be flushed for over 10 years."

-- The pre-Modell NFL record: about 104-42-  lotsa playoff appearances

The Modell era record: 252-233-10 .519 percentage-  17 play-off appearances

The Lerner era record: 68-160 .327 percentage (No ties!)- 1 play-off appearance

That's more or less in black and white. Explanations and context notwithstanding.

At the end of the day, what is really important?

All i have to say is Lombardi better pray that **** works out for him because if this team goes 5-11 next year.. 

What i don't understand about Lombardi taking this job is why Cleveland? He has to know that he is hated here and will get ZERO slack from the fan base and the media. There isn't a place he could choose that would be less hospitable to him.. Is he really that desperate to get back into football that he is willing to walk into a situation where 1 bad decision will get him crucified?

This is the part i just don't get.. Is he completely oblivious?

mythrand wrote: All i have to say is Lombardi better pray that **** works out for him because if this team goes 5-11 next year.. 

What i don't understand about Lombardi taking this job is why Cleveland? He has to know that he is hated here and will get ZERO slack from the fan base and the media. There isn't a place he could choose that would be less hospitable to him.. Is he really that desperate to get back into football that he is willing to walk into a situation where 1 bad decision will get him crucified?

This is the part i just don't get.. Is he completely oblivious?

It tells me what kind of faith he has in Haslam, Banner, the team and himself.  He knows that 'if' he can be part of bringing a winner to the most passionate and starved fans in the NFL he will be stripped of all wrongs in the past.  I'm sure he is also fully aware of what you just pointed out about making any wrong moves.  He also may feel he has nothing to lose.  He is hated anyway by most of our fan base.  If he fails things really don't change for him.  This is his one big chance.

For those who don't buy into him no matter what, he is going to bury himself and anything said in a positive way won't matter.   For those who have hope it's something to cling to.  Guess we will begin to see soon enough.  We have a strong enough base of players and coaches that any good or bad will be seen in the not to distant future.

"It tells me what kind of faith he has in Haslam, Banner, the team and himself."

-- That could be it. Or it could be that they offered so much money he couldn't say no. Or something else.

"We have a strong enough base of players and coaches that any good or bad will be seen in the not to distant future."

-- Once again, the record is what really counts. We'll see if the FO and the coaches can build a winning team.  What people have seen so far has delivered a mixed message, I would say. My message is mixed, at any rate.

But again, how mixed up I or anyone else is doesn't matter against the record that these various parts can put together.

Disagree on this for sure.  Nobody wanted Lomabardi but Banner.  They didn't have to make him a deal he couldn't refuse (money).  We got him cheap I bet or mid going price at best.
All he has been itching to do was get back in the NFL.  Wouldn't have taken much when it comes to money.  This is most likely his only shot back.  A few more years at ESPN/NFL network would only keep him there.

Players?  Nope again.  We have a good base BUT its critical to get it right on QB, Wr & DL.  If anything, we are close enough that any screw up will be exposed quickly.

"Disagree on this for sure."

-- All of your disagreements are, of course, foolish and might be criminally insane...

No. I was channeling other POVs.

What you say might be true. I don't know who knows, but I don't know.

I agree that we have some good players. Now it is up to our new coaches and our new personnel people to put things together and produce a winning team. That is what will be seen- but can now be irrelevantly debated if that's what you want to do.

Agree?

BTW- But why would Haslam want to save a few bucks getting Lombardi unless he was a guy who was wanted in the first place? Seems dumb when you have Haslam-money. I would think they would want quality guys and be willing to spend a bit to get them. Therefore, they must see Lombardi as a good fit. Or did they have some other motivation? And does it matter over the record when all is said and done?