CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are...
In the locker room Sunday, Josh Cribbs sounded like David Copperfield.
"We're going to turn these losses by four points into wins by 14," he said, stopping short of adding, "Abracadabra." This was the same guy who, when asked how big the gap was between the Ravens and Browns less than a month earlier, said, "It's a big gap."
This was the same guy who delivered the slogan of the season after the Cincinnati game when he said out of frustration, "We almost always almost win" and declared war on the moral victory.
So why the happy outlook? After six losses to end the season? Well, for one thing, Cribbs started getting more passes thrown his way. But why else? Because the Browns only were beaten badly once in that stretch?
Sorry. There has to be more reason for optimism than that. That's losers' talk.
Hopefully, Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert can communicate better reasons in Thursday's press conference, because close games are the nature of the NFL. They're not something to run up the flag pole and salute. 
Holmgren pointed to The Nap and The Snap in his last press conference in trying to explain the poor record under rookie head coach Pat Shurmur. It didn't fly then. It still doesn't. The Browns lost six games by seven or fewer points in 2011. In a few of those, teams got ahead and protected their lead.
Just a year ago, Eric Mangini's Browns lost seven by less than a touchdown. They even managed to do it while making some magic happen in the very same season, with wins over New Orleans (30-17) and New England (34-14) followed by an OT loss to the Jets (26-20) that was every bit as unlucky as anything that's happened this season.
The Browns have reason to believe they've closed the gap defensively after two years of drafting on that side of the ball. So it figures they can improve offensively by turning attention there in this draft. But there are a lot more questions than draft picks to solve them. And this time next year, Holmgren will be going into Year 4.
Who's the quarterback, the feature running back, the playmaking wide receivers, the play caller? Does anyone in Berea feel a sense of urgency? Could they, you know, show it in free agency?
Maybe Randy Lerner bought the idea of a five-year plan, but it's a non-starter with people who've been invested emotionally and financially since 1999. People who've seen things turn around more quickly in other NFL cities. People who've seen a head coach's passion become contagious.
Since it's clear this flat-lining head coach is being afforded time to learn on the job and isn't going anywhere, it's incumbent on Holmgren and Heckert to give their customers a quick review of The Plan. What would really help is if they recognized the need to hit the accelerator on it. They clearly didn't care about winning this season. Their moves said as much, starting with Shurmur's hiring.
In the meantime, they can't talk about being close one minute when it fits their agenda and roll their eyes the next at everyone's lack of understanding and patience.
Realistically, you'd settle for the Peyton you already have...
If ESPN "speculation" that the Browns would probably be interested in Peyton Manning if he were available can pass as news, then here's something else for you.
First, let me say I am not reporting this. Let's be clear about that. This isn't a report or even a rumor. I'm just putting it out there.
If, say, Adrian Peterson were healthy and available, I would expect the Browns to have some interest in pursuing him.
Yes, even if that means making room by cutting Chris Ogbonnaya.
http://www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2012/01/the_cleveland_browns_have_a_pl.html
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