As much as it’s probably impossible for Tony Grossi to understand that all fast athletic black guys aren’t exactly the same, there might be Cleveland.com/PD readers at the margins for whom it might help to point out: Just because a guy takes the no-risk opportunity in the pre-season to reward what he correctly understands to be highly appreciative Browns fans with a reprise of the most awesome touchdown celebration in American football history …
… that doesn’t at all make him a jerk, an embarrassingly starstruck dandy, a code blue sociopath, or guarantee that he has anything else in common with Braylon Edwards other than that they’re both young, black, and fast and athletic enough to play wide receiver in the NFL.
What Greg Little’s decision to celebrate his first preseason touchdown as a Cleveland Brown by gloriously punting the ball into oblivion does show is that Little loves football and loves being awesome at it more than Braylon ever did, and of course, that Little loves and appreciates Browns fans who know awesome TD celebrations when they see them.
This would also be the place to note that we’re talking about the same Tony Grossi who less than a year ago was telling us that there was nothing wrong with Braylon anyway; that the receiver was only an “enigma” who was mismanaged by Eric Mangini. Which still works fine for Grossi, of course, because all the fast athletic black receivers are the same, whether you want to call them “divas,” “enigmas,” or whatever, and there are coaches who can handle them and coaches who can’t.
Just when you think it’s impossible for Grossi’s worldview to be any more warped than it is, he goes and writes another column.
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UPDATE: Greg Little says enough with the Greg Little/Braylon Edwards comparisons, please.
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Relatedly, here’s a class shot:
Hey, Tony: 1) Pat Shurmur seems must more approachable and willing to answer questions during press conferences (plus he seems like a nice guy). It’s refreshing to see after years of secrets, secrets, and more secrets. What are your thoughts from a reporter’s perspective on Shurmur? … — Derp Derpstein, Derpahassee, Fla.
Hey, Mitch: Shurmur’s off to a good start. He seems like a normal person who happens to be a football coach. No hidden agendas. …
A normal person. To hell with anyone who isn’t that. What would we do without reporters like Grossi to protect us against the non-normal, and football coaches with the hidden agenda of winning football games?
And in case you were wondering:
Hey, Tony: … How would you describe the difference with Holmgrem/Heckert this year compared with last year? Is Holmgren more involved or engaged with Shurmur than with Mangini? Was the Holmgren/Mangini relationship non-existent or was it based solely on wins and losses? — Cuyler Hunter, Columbus
Hey, Cuyler: Holmgren has done more coaching in the first two weeks of training camp than he did all of last year. There’s no doubt the chemistry in the building is better now.
Of course.
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The offense looked fine on Friday, the defense looked semi-alarming. Both teams were missing about ten starters each. Kaluka Maiava looked good and D’Qwell Jackson looks like a star in the 4-3. The Browns look like every bit of an 8-8 or 9-7 NFL football team. Real games start 3 weeks from yesterday.
Cuuuugs won the Blingee/GLC Trophy Challenge.
We’ll be back tomorrow to talk some Tribe and who knows what else.





