FanNation - The Republic of Sport

So Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner met this week with "Dawg Pound Mike" and his buddy, no doubt hoping to get the two fans to call off the kickoff protest planned for Monday night, Nov. 16, when the Baltimore Ravens visit Cleveland Browns Stadium. And here's the Browns' luck: Lerner chats with these guys for about two hours and, after all that blabbing, "Dawg Pound Mike" announces he's still going through with this demonstration that figures to embarrass the organization even more than some of its draft picks. The big scoop "Dawg Pound Mike" came away with is that Lerner seemed sincere in saying he actually wants to win (he saw it in his eyes) and that the Browns do not take a back seat to the billionaire's Premier League soccer team, as some have surmised.

Dayton Daily News

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The life of Vince Lombardi - one of the Seven Blocks of Granite at Fordham, the coaching saint, the mahatma of Green Bay - is the subject of a new play, and its producers plan to bring it to Broadway late next year. There will be no singing or dancing, no crooning Lombardi, no "Damn Packers." "It's 40 years since he last coached and that's part of the reason we're doing this," said Eric Simonson, who is adapting the play from "When Pride Still Mattered," David Maraniss's 1999 biography of Lombardi. "His name is on the Super Bowl trophy. But who is the guy? There's something about his character that reflects America."

New York Times

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Thursday on NFL Network, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter shot off about the Patriots in general, and their quarterback, Tom Brady, in particular. Porter said he felt Brady "gets his own rules", and cited examples of Brady calling for flags and getting calls. Well, who better to ask about this subject than Brady himself? "No, I don't think so, " Brady told the Globe. "You may get more calls. I don't know. I think the ref calls what he sees. I don't think I've ever influenced a call. The refs we have are very good. If they make a call on that, great. If they don't, that's fine."

Boston Globe

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Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth took umbrage with the Falcons' blocking techniques in a radio interview Thursday night and challenged linemen Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl. Haynesworth, who was recently voted the second-dirtiest player in the league in a Sports Illustrated poll, is clearly not a fan of their blocking intensity. One of the hosts then asked, "What are you going to do if they try to finish you, or cut you? Give us the inside scoop." Haynesworth said, "I'll keep it a surprise, if it happens."

Atlanta Journal Constitution

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Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Roy Williams are spending more time together in their attempt to fix a broken connection. Romo and Williams had their second consecutive post-practice workout Thursday. Williams said the extra work will continue "until that light switches over." Williams insisted comments about the inability to mesh with Romo should not be viewed as something out of the Terrell Owens playbook. Owens last season repeatedly complained about Romo's direction of the passing game. "I'm not a T.O.," Williams said. "I'm not trying to be a T.O. I'm happy to win. I've said that a hundred times. I don't understand why people don't just say OK.

Dallas Morning News

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