Browns make splashes, flush turds Staff, Cleveland Plain Dealer CLEVELAND — 5:00 AM. The alarm clock buzzes. Its owner flips the switch off and rises from bed. Santonio Holmes is already wide awake, ready to get to work. By 5:30, he’s out of the house. By 6:00, he’s at the facility of his new team, the Cleveland Browns, ready to get to work. He’s not alone. “I couldn’t believe it, but the first time I got here this early, the lights were already on and the door was wide open,” he tells. “I thought it was Hillis come back to get more of Coach [Mike] Holmgren’s gummy bears, to be quite honest with you. I wouldn’t put breaking and entering past that guy. But, no! A bunch of guys had already hit the weight room. The strength coaches were there, too. Never seen anything like that, even in Pittsburgh.” Even in Pittsburgh. The words sound strange to many Browns fans, accustomed to pessimism and betrayal. Now, one of their own used to be one of theirs, and many aren’t sure what to think. “Santurdio GO AWAY!” blares one of many similar posts on Browns Internet forums. “Can’t stand this guy on our team. I hate the Steelers and anyone who played for them. Bad enough we have two Steelers on the coaching staff.” But the Browns are outwardly undeterred by such sentiments, kept busy by a steady stream of free agent signings, trades, and other roster moves. Entering the weight room, Holmes walks by many such acquisitions. Defensive end Stephen Bowen, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. Defensive end Randy Starks, a latecomer from the Miami Dolphins. Prize free agent cornerback Josh Wilson, defecting from division rival Baltimore Ravens. Wide receiver Jason Avant, offensive lineman Mike McGlynn, and tight end Brent Celek, all late of the Philadelphia Eagles, are working out as well, all three arriving in the then-controversial Joe Haden/Alex Mack trade. Cornerback Asante Samuel came with them but moved on, his exit paving the way for Holmes’ entry. “It’s amazing, walking into that room,” Holmes describes. “When I was in Pittsburgh, I almost felt sorry for the team. They tried hard, but they just couldn’t win. Now you come here, and it’s like being at Pro Bowl practice in Hawaii.” The roster isn’t all imported. Several incumbents remain. All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas, second year quarterback Colt McCoy, and Pro Bowl guard Eric Steinbach share Holmes’ wonder. “Nothing short of incredible,” McCoy describes. “What Coach Holmgren and Mr. Desides have done with the team… We feel really good about where the team is headed. Lots of guys here have had individual success, and we really want to put it all together, to win games, win in the playoffs.” Playoffs. The word carries an almost mythical connotation in Cleveland. The Browns have not made the playoffs since being reconstituted in 2002, despite an 11-5 campaign in 2007. “The group we’re putting together, the players we’ve been fortunate enough to sign or somehow acquire, are hungry for success,” General Manager Desides tells the Plain Dealer. “They’ve tasted success elsewhere, and they want to take the next step here.” But what about the playoffs? “We think we have the makings of a strong playoff team,” Desides confirms. “The core of talent is there. Yes, this team can make the playoffs. And, more importantly, I think the team as we’re building it can make a playoff run. We don’t just want to make the playoffs, we want to win there.” If the team is so good already, then what about the draft? “The draft is important. We acquired a lot of selections, and while we’ve traded those selections away, we feel that’s just the equivalent of using a pick early. [Free safety] Quintin [Mikell], Randy [Starks], all those other guys, I look at them as being draft picks. I think that’s an excellent use of resources. “We have eight draft picks left, too. There’s still a lot of room for this team to grow. Our phone hasn’t stopped ringing. We haven’t stopped conducting business and talking shop with any team willing to call us. As optimistic as we are, the job still isn’t done. “Stay tuned.” Mary Kay Cabot did not contribute to this report.
