Lower standards: Browns are lauded

The Bengals praised the Browns' performance despite rolling to a 30-0 win.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- The NFL tradition of complimenting overmatched opponents continued on Sunday as the Bengals somehow found something nice to say about the Browns.
"Cleveland plays hard," Cincinnati offensive tackle Willie Anderson said. "Even when it was 30-0 [the final score], they kept coming hard. They haven't quit yet. They play a physical game under Coach [Romeo] Crennel."
If you're having trouble believing that, how about this one from running back Rudi Johnson: "Cleveland played a great defensive game."
Apparently, the standard for greatness has been lowered.
Cincinnati gained 388 yards, although the Browns did a decent job on Johnson, who carried 25 times for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson had averaged 161 yards in his previous four games against Cleveland.
"We knew it would be a hard-fought battle, so it's a good victory for the team," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.
"We feel that it is obviously a good victory today, getting a win up here against a team that had been playing close football games."
There was no chance a close game this time. Cleveland's offense had no answer for the Bengals, who entered the game ranked 32nd out of 32 NFL teams in pass defense and total defense.
"We just got killed, that's all," left tackle Kevin Shaffer said.
Lackluster offense
The Browns' immortal running back duo of Jerome Harrison (18 yards) and Jason Wright (12 yards) were the team's top two rushing threats.
Charlie Frye's quarterback rating was 40.9 after completing 18 of 29 passes for 186 yards and four interceptions.
"I don't think we played with the same fire we did last week," Frye said. "We never got it rolling. There were a lot of mistakes and we didn't play Cleveland football today.
"We didn't look like a very good football team."
Tight end Kellen Winslow caught six passes for 52 yards although he was never much of a factor.
When asked when he knew it was going to be a rough game, Winslow said, "Really, the first half. We couldn't do anything."
Emphasizes togetherness
Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, who was a starter on the Seahawks' Super Bowl team last year and signed with his hometown Browns in the off-season, said it's important for the team to stay together.
"We have five games left and we can't go pointing fingers," said Jurevicius, who had two catches for 19 yards. "It's gut-check time. Either we stick together or you know what's going to happen."
Jurevicius, for his part, said he's going to do everything he can to turn the season around.
"I know what it takes to win in this league," said Jurevicius, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay earlier in his career. "You don't get to this level by quitting. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure we come to work on Sunday."
scalzo@vindy.com