Why are the Browns joking around?

[mesaSteeler]

Why are the Browns joking around?
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/pos...-joking-around
September 25, 2009 5:21 PM

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

The Cleveland Browns are 0-2 and in desperate need of a victory this weekend.
Francies


So why exactly are the Browns playing around?

Pranks are silly but they happen in the NFL. Yet most teams leave the tomfoolery behind in training camp.

Cleveland veterans had all summer to pick on Coye Francies. Why the winless Browns are running pranks on the rookie defensive back in Week 3 of the regular season is confusing. Although the nature of the incident is unknown, I’m guessing the timing had a lot to do with Francies’ angry retaliation Friday, which reportedly included ice and a punch being thrown in Cleveland’s locker room.

The Browns have a lot of problems to overcome in the first year under new head coach Eric Mangini. Lack of discipline and chemistry are definitely two of them.

Cleveland will travel to play Baltimore in less than 48 hours, and the Ravens won’t be joking around.

[stillers4me]

They'd might as well get their laughs now.

It will be hard to lugh through the pain come Monday.

[Psyychoward86]

haha, here's some more info

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...s&confirm=true

BEREA, Ohio -- After a spirited practice, the Cleveland Browns were still in a playful mood so they decided to pull a prank on one of their rookies.

The first-year cornerback, incensed over being soaked with water by some of his teammates, threw a bucket of ice and at least one errant punch during a skirmish in the Browns' locker room Friday.

As the Browns returned from practice, a dripping-wet Francies stormed into the locker room lugging a Gatorade bucket full of ice. Before he could be stopped, Francies tossed the ice on cornerback Brandon McDonald, hitting him with cubes that covered the floor.

At that point, it wasn't clear if Francies was playing along and messing with McDonald.

Then, Francies' mood, and the vibe in the room, turned more serious.

Francies flung some more ice in the direction of safety Mike Adams before heading toward safety Abram Elam's corner cubicle. With the bucket on the floor, Francies then swung his arms at Elam, who deflected the blows. Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers then stepped in, grabbed Francies by the back of the shirt and escorted him out a side door as other players came to help.

"Calm down, man," Rogers told Francies as he pushed him outside.

"Welcome to the Browns locker room!" wide receiver Braylon Edwards hollered as players rushed over to check on the commotion, which happened while the locker room was open to reporters.
Bad news for Browns
Browns RB Jamal Lewis didn't practice all week because of a hamstring injury and is doubtful to play in Sunday's game against the Ravens, his former team. More ...

Francies returned a few minutes later and went straight to his stall at the back of the locker room, next to the equipment area. He still seemed irritated as he sat there, and Rogers, linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton and safety Brodney Pool tried to calm him down.

At the other end of the locker room, McDonald did some housekeeping in front of his stall.

"It was just guys having fun," McDonald said, whisking the ice into a dust pan with a broom. "I was the first one he saw. He got a little aggressive, (so) it's no big deal. We handled it. It's over now, and we're going to worry about the Ravens. We don't want to have any misconceptions in the locker room.

"So that's it. We took care of it, and we're moving on."

After dressing, Francies had cooled down enough to smile.

"It's all just fun and games," he said. "We were just playing around."

Later, a regretful Francies went to coach Eric Mangini's office to explain what happened and acknowledged that he had overreacted.

Mangini wanted to do some further investigating and consulted with other players and team leaders to make sure there wasn't a lingering conflict.

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"I said, 'Was there anything malicious about this? Is there something deeper here?'" Mangini said. "And to a man, they said, 'No, it was nothing like that.' He's a rookie, he's young. He should have put it in the right context. I trust the guys I talked to. I talked to him afterward, and he said, 'I should have handled it differently.'"

The Browns, who will play at Baltimore on Sunday, dropped their first two games, with second-half collapses in both. But despite the slow start, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan senses that Cleveland's players are determined to turn around their season.

"I know our guys are ready to fight," he said. "They're starting to care for each other. We're coming together. I can see it."

[SteelTalons]

Originally Posted by Psyychoward86

"Welcome to the Browns locker room!" wide receiver Braylon Edwards hollered as players rushed over to check on the commotion, which happened while the locker room was open to reporters.

Best part of the whole story.

[Steelboy84]

The Browns ARE a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[klick81]

Bunch of clowns. Even THEY don't like themselves!

[Crow-Magnon]

Maybe ice and punches cuts down on the risk of contracting a staph infection in that nasty-ass Browns locker room.

[RoethlisBURGHer]

The Cleveland Browns = Epic Fail

[Galax Steeler]

Originally Posted by Crow-Magnon

Maybe ice and punches cuts down on the risk of contracting a staph infection in that nasty-ass Browns locker room.

I would say they are going to need more Ice after the game with you guys today.

[mesaSteeler]

Originally Posted by RoethlisBURGHer

The Cleveland Browns = Epic Fail

Hmmm, don't know about epic "fall". To fall you first have to stand tall and I don't recall the Clowns ever getting up off their knees.