Chilling

Looking at the Browns Web site, which I do when I want to find things to talk about regarding the Browns, the day's fan poll caught my eye.

The question was: What is Sunday's most important matchup?

Now to restrict the endless possibility of things, as well as put this into context, the question refers to this weekend's Browns-'Boys match-up.

Now two of the four possible choices left me feeling extremely uncomfortable. Needless to say, both occured on the defensive side of the ball (if you're a Browns fan)...

MLB Andre Davis vs. RB Marion Barber and CBs Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald vs. WRs Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton.

How's that for intimidating?

And would you believe that, of the 1700 voters who'd thrown in their two cents, 80% said it would be the cornerback/receiver matchup that would be most important.

Hmmm...

The funny thing is, the coaches probably feel that way, too. And the players, and the owners, and in a little while, the trainers.

Because they'll be the ones setting the broken ankles of our wet-behind-the-ears corners. Now, I should mention I'm an optimist, but come on! T.O.!?

I saw things that I liked out of both Wright and McDonald last year. They could be good players, maybe not the best but good. Of course, I should probably point out that I saw even better things from an old rookie cornerback we used to have named Anthony Henry.

And I'm an OPTIMIST. Enough said.

So should we be more than a little baffled at the fact that the most experienced cornerback on our squad is Terry Cousins? Wouldn't we be far better off with Ty Law relegated to that role?

We could tape all his fingers together, put a do-rag over his eyes and have Mrs. McNabb AND Hasselbeck feed him chunky soup the entire seven hours leading up to the game, and he'd STILL be good enough to play nickel back for us.

Or we could get really on top of things (the Wednesday before our season starts), look outside our proverbial window, and see that a pair of still useful, albeit contractually challenged, corners are on the market in the shapes of Ricky Manning Jr. and Deltha O'Neal.

A pair of overrated fellows? Sure.

But I don't really think now is the time to be worrying about ratings at cornerback.

Or so says 80% of me.