NFL Butch Davis still struggling to solve Cleveland's wild and bizarre riddle

The Browns' coach doesn't have the answers about the team or his job.
BEREA (AP) -- Butch Davis figured he had seen it all during nearly four wacky, weary and wild seasons as coach of the Browns. Then along came something totally unexpected: Cincinnati 58, Cleveland 48.
"It's probably one of the most bizarre games that I've ever been involved in," he said of Sunday's inexplicable loss to the Bengals. "At any level, college or pro."
Davis, whose job is barely hanging by a chin strap, has seen his share of NFL absurdity, too.
On Monday, he was asked if he'll be back next season.
"I can't answer that and I wish I could tell you," said Davis, under contract through 2007. "But I don't know the answer."
Decades of absurdity
If he doesn't return, Davis saw decades of absurdity in his three-plus seasons. There was the bottle-throwing riot by Cleveland fans. There were improbable comeback wins on the road. There were a litany of last-second losses, one when his own player flung a helmet.
But this was a new one for Davis, and the Browns.
One week after scoring seven points in a loss, they scored 35, in the second half. One week after he failed to spark Cleveland, backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb threw five touchdown passes as the offense moved better than it has with injured Jeff Garcia.
One week after missing two field goals, Phil Dawson made both attempts. One week after Cleveland's defense gave up just 10 points, it yielded double-digits in each quarter to the Bengals.
The Browns set team records, personal marks, and along with the Bengals, nearly rewrote the league's standard for points as they lit up the scoreboard in the second-highest scoring game in history.
And still, they lost, dropping their fifth straight in what some thought was a must-win for Davis' job security.
Perplexing
The Browns (3-8) are not a joke. They're a riddle that Davis can't solve now and may never get the chance to decipher. From Sunday to Sunday, he's never sure what his team might do or not do.
"Every week it seems as though there is an issue of significance we can't quite get over the hump," he said. "You lay awake and try to figure out where to stick your finger in another hole in the dike."
Davis, 24-36 with one playoff appearance since taking over the Browns in 2001, may be running out of time to repair the damage. Cleveland's front office has stated he'll finish the season unless he resigns.
Asked directly if he wants to stay until the team gets turned around, Davis said, "Sure. Absolutely."
No excuses
Owner Randy Lerner will ultimately decide if Davis gets the chance. Lerner may have made up his mind already, but if he hasn't, there may be some legitimate excuses why the Browns are in the AFC North's basement.
They've been decimated by injuries, losing six starters for the season. The latest addition to the injured list is linebacker Andra Davis, who tore a knee ligament in Sunday's loss.
Davis has tried not to use the injuries as an excuse. But there is little doubt they would be a better team if they were healthier.
"The No. 1 issue that has affected this team for two seasons in a row has been injuries," said Davis. "There is absolutely no substitute for the same guys playing every single week.
"Building a football team is like anything else," he said. "If you don't lay a good foundation from the bottom and lay brick by brick, you are not going to have anything any good. It's the way that I have watched every successful team that I have ever been fortunate enough to be a part of did it. They didn't tear it up halfway through."