ekansekans's blog: "df"

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Pat Shurmur has already developed thick skin. Now, hes bulking up his record. With two straight wins, the Browns are showing major signs of improvement in their second season under Shurmur, whose future in Cleveland could hinge on how his team plays in its final four games -- if it hasnt been determined already. On Sunday, the Browns (4-8) snapped a 12-game road losing streak with a 20-17 win over Oakland, putting the Raiders away with a clutch, 94-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, when Shurmur made a gutsy fourth-down call. The Browns have gotten better and so has Shurmur. He has been harshly criticized by some Cleveland fans for his game management and play calling, and theres a chance he wont be around for a third year once new owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner finish their post-season assessment. Shurmur wont predict whats ahead. "I dont want to talk about my future, OK?" he said. "Im trying to make this the best Monday of the year, and Im trying to get our team ready to play the Chiefs and then after that and so on and so forth. I dont look at it that way. Im not taking any half-swings here. Well just play it out and see what happens." Theres no denying that the Browns, with 17 rookies on their roster, are growing up. Theyve been competitive since Week 1, but in back-to-back wins over Pittsburgh and Oakland, theyve finally shown the ability to finish games. Its an important step in the development for any team, even more so for one starting a rookie quarterback, running back, wide receiver, right tackle -- and with a coach under fire. Shurmur acknowledges his teams evolution, but he knows the Browns are far from a finished product. "I feel good about where were going, weve just got to keep going," Shurmur said. "Its easy to let that momentum stop. Thats what Im guarding against, and I think our locker room understands that its important you jump right back in the process. "Youll get tired of hearing me say that. As long as Im here, youll get tired of hearing me say, jump back in the process. Because I think thats most important. Initially for the season its 16 processes and how well you get that right. Because that gives you the best opportunity to be successful on Sunday. And thats where we all want to be, at our best." Shurmur may be down to his last four Sundays, but hes committed to making the most of them. Last week, Haslam said in an interview with the Plain Dealer that he believed the Browns were "very close" to being a playoff contender. He was noncommittal about Shurmurs future and reiterated that he and Banner would wait until after the season before making any personnel decisions. Shurmur was pleased to learn his new boss sees progress. That doesnt mean its time to stop. "Its always good to hear good things," Shurmur said. "I do know this. Whats important to me -- and its very narrow-minded -- is this next game, period. And then whatever gets determined gets determined, but what I can control right now with this football team is what happens this week." On Sunday, the Browns will host the Kansas City Chiefs (2-10), who pulled together and beat Carolina one day after linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his 22-year-old girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, before driving to Arrowhead Stadium, where he committed suicide in the practice facilitys parking lot. After facing the Chiefs, the Browns will host Washington before closing out the season with road games at Denver and Pittsburgh. Cleveland has already matched its win total from last season, and if Shurmur bumps up his resume with another win or two or three, he could make it very difficult for the Browns not to bring him back. Hes made his share of mistakes, but Shurmur appears to be learning from them. Earlier this season, he was slammed for electing to punt on a critical fourth down against Indianapolis. Two weeks later, his gamble on a similar play against Baltimore backfired in a loss. On Sunday, Shurmur chose to go for it on 4th-and-1 after quarterback Brandon Weeden was stuffed on a sneak. Following a timeout, Shurmur had Weeden run the same play and the Browns converted to keep alive their game-winning drive. "Any time you do something more and more, you get better at it," Shurmur said when asked if hes improved. "It becomes clearer. There are things I see better now. Theres other things that come in to this now. I know my coaches and players better. I understand how everybody on our team is going to respond in most situations. Yeah, I think theres things were doing better -- me included." Browns defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin sees a difference in Shurmur from last season, his first as an NFL head coach. "Hes getting more comfortable and he knows the players more," Rubin said. "Hes getting acclimated and has a feel for our opponents. Coming in and playing the Steelers and the Ravens and the Bengals is pretty difficult every year, so this conference and division is hard to get acclimated to." With a youthful, talented nucleus, the Browns have a promising future. Whats unclear is who will coach them after this season. Shurmur has his fans and critics, who even find faults when he wins. Hes managed to block out the personal attacks and remains focused on winning. Its not always easy. "I really believe in this group we have and I really believe this is the foundation of something that could be really good," he said. "Even though I say that and believe in it, until we start winning football games, thats what shows it. Thats really my concern. Some of the other stuff about me personally -- what more can they say about me? "I dont listen to it, but Im told frequently about it. Thats where the thick skin part comes in." Cheap MLB Jerseys . However, the Tour ends just six days before the Olympic road race. The effort involved in competing at the top level in the Tour de France may prove too exhausting to consider also riding at the Olympics. Cheap NFL Jerseys . Manziel, the redshirt freshman quarterback from Texas A&M, and Teo, Notre Dames star linebacker, along with Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, were invited Monday to attend the Heisman presentation ceremony. http://www.azulvirtual.org/hot.html . The blast may have been even bigger for Detroits playoff chances. Cabreras home run gave the Tigers a five-run cushion they would end up needing and Justin Verlander struck out eight in seven innings in a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday that gave them a two-game lead in the AL Central.MCKINNEY, Texas -- Justin Hicks shot a 2-under 69 in breezy and cold conditions Friday to take a two-stroke after the second round of the Web.com Tour Championship. The top 60 on the money list qualified for the season-ending event at TPC Craig Ranch, and the final top 25 will earn 2013 PGA Tour cards. At 11th on the money list, Hicks has already wrapped up a tour card. Hicks leads the field in fairways and greens in regulation, hitting 24 of 28 fairways and 30 of 36 greens. "Im just trying to hit a lot of fairways and greens and hopefully give myself a lot of opportunities and get one or two to fall," Hicks said "On a demanding golf course like this, greens in regulation are going to be a key to guys playing well, I think. And lucky for me, between the conditions and the golf course, it suits a guy thats going to hit a lot of greens." He had an 8-under 134 total. &"Im 38 on Sunday and I try not to think about being 12 years from the Champions Tour, but maybe that age has something to do with how patient Ive been," Hicks said.dddddddddddd "Were already thinking that we have a Tour card coming as part of my birthday gift. But really a strong week here no matter what it is would be a strong way to finish off this season, especially on my birthday." Justin Bolli and Canadian Brad Fritsch were tied for second. They each shot 71. Fritsch, from Ottawa, is 21st on the money list, and Bolli 44th. Russell Henley, the former Georgia player who won the Jacksonville Open on Sunday for his second victory of the year, was 5 under along with James Hahn, Scott Gardiner and Michael Putnam. Henley is third on the money list, Hahn 13th, Gardiner 14th and Putnam 30th. The winner will receive $180,000 from the $1 million purse. ' ' '