Rookie head coach, that is. From ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli.

At 4-6, the Browns have already equaled their victory total from last season. And the four victories are as many as the team managed in three of its previous six seasons since being reincarnated in 1999. No reason to believe that Cleveland, and Crennel, won’t add a few more notches in the left-hand column before the season ends.

Pasquarelli goes on to detail why I think Reuben Droughns might also be nominated for “best off-season move”, and quotes an anonymous source on another Browns move that could qualify as well.

“As much as the Denver coaches like to tell people how well the defensive linemen they got from the Browns in the offseason are playing, Courtney Brown isn’t doing much. He’s got two sacks, that’s it, and I’m convinced now the guy will never be more than ordinary. And that’s only if he can stay healthy.”

All in all, people around the league are starting to look at the Browns and say, hey…wait a minute…they’re finally waking up from their dark night.

Sure sounds like it.

Danielson, working the telecast with play-by-play broadcaster Brent Musburger, lavished praise on Smith’s ingenuity and creativity - as much as his strong arm - in leading the Buckeyes to a classic, 25-21, come-from-behind win. By doing so, Danielson gave viewers an overdue break from the tiresome nitpicking that many football analysts have subjected Smith to all season - particularly in questioning his “decision-making ability” as a QB. (Which, let’s face it, is merely a nice code phrase for “intelligence.”)

Not only is Roger Brown playing the race card here, he’s doing it sloppily. He puts in quotes “decision-making ability”…who is he quoting? Himself? Who questioned Troy Smith’s “decision-making ability”? Roger…take it from a guy who’s been in Cleveland politics for a while…if you’re gonna play the race card, you need to come strong with it. Blindly quoting no one doesn’t work.

As for the “tiresome nitpicking” (that’s a real quote of a real person there Roger, in case you’re wondering) of Smith, as someone who has done so a lot, the knock on Smith is that he telegraphs his throws, doesn’t go through his reads, and keys on one receiver. Is that a black thing, Roger? Is it a white thing? Or is it just a stinky QB thing? Smith had a great game against Michigan, and certainly answered his critics, but to wrap it in a race card is simply idiotic.

The rhythm where you stink?

“If you’ve ever played quarterback in this league, which nobody in this room has, rhythm is one of the biggest parts of it, and when you take a guy’s rhythm away, it makes his job much harder.

Trent Dilfer should be happy that he’s playing in the NFL, let alone being allowed to continue starting while Crennell gets some reps to Charlie Frye “whenever I get that gut feeling”. Grow up.

Slurping Braylon Edwards is apparently a full time job for Bud Shaw now.

Saying he was ready to make plays and wanted to prove it - gee, how controversial - he caught six passes for 90 yards in a 22-0 win over Miami. “I had no problem with what Braylon said,” Dilfer said. “I’ve told the receivers, ‘Listen, I want you to want the ball. You can drill me if I’m not getting it to you. But don’t ask for the ball, get the opportunity and then not make the most of it.’ ”

Charlie Frye’s first interception of his career was a perfect pass that bounced off of Edwards hands. Remember that Bud?

A leaping catch on a Frye scramble was most reminiscent of his acrobatics at Michigan. But he talked more of the Frye pass he juggled into an interception. “I have to make that catch,” he said.

No one will remember this, because the Browns won 22-0 in a game that was never at risk. But enough with the T.O. routine….from the media. Please.