Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS
Angered by another loss, Cleveland comedian Mike Polk grabbed his video camera and vented.
Ranting as he paced a downtown sidewalk last week after the Browns were blown out in Houston, Polk, whose short film has gone viral on YouTube, turned toward Cleveland Browns Stadium and let loose.
“You are a factory of sadness!” he screamed before surrendering. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
Well, Polk was prophetic.
On Sunday, the plant of pain manufactured more misery.
The Browns, who have seemingly found every conceivable way to lose since returning to the NFL as an expansion team in 1999, discovered another way to deliver heartbreak when Phil Dawson, their steadier than steady kicker, missed a 22-yard field following a botched snap with 2:13 left in a 13-12 loss to St. Louis.
A disturbing chain of events, beginning with long snapper Ryan Pontbriand’s snap deflecting off left guard Alex Mack’s right foot, led to Dawson’s miss — his first after four makes.
Or maybe it started with Polk’s choice of jersey for his video. He wore a brown No. 64, with “Pontbriand” across the shoulders.
Curses anyone?
Pontbriand, who joined the Browns in 2003, was asked if he had seen it all as a pro.
“I thought I had,” said Pontbriand, who was so upset following the game that he went home and snapped 150 times. “But obviously not. It’s just real unfortunate to be a part of that. Obviously I would give anything to take it back.
“If a couple things had been different, any one of the three things would’ve been different, it would’ve been game over, we win”
Instead, the Browns (3-6) lost, and in doing so in such a gut-wrenching way, they may have dropped a few more fans who have given up hope they can turn things around, make their first Super Bowl and win their first NFL title since 1964.
Browns first-year coach Pat Shurmur, who is being criticized for some late-game decisions in the loss, began his news conference Monday by reaching out to Cleveland fans.
“I’m just like every other person in the city of Cleveland that woke up this morning disappointed that we lost,” Shurmur said. “I feel the same frustration. I’m disappointed, but not discouraged. I feel it. I’ve lived it. I’m from this region, I understand what everybody feels when you don’t win and so what we’re trying to do is change that.”
“I believe in my heart of hearts we can get it done. There’s no question.”