[MIJB#19]

Regular Season 2000 second half:

Cleveland (0-8) @ Buffalo (0-7)
It was clear, one of the teams had to lose it always-beaten record.
It turned out that we were the team to keep the streak alive... 28-31.
We were extreme close to our first win in a long time (12 straight losses, 16 including exhibiiton games!)
Morris Jells was great with 119yd and a TD rushing and also a 14yd TD reception.
Edgar Bennewith was a big surpirse today: 24/40, 310yd, 2 TD, 0 int.
Receiver Fitzgerald totaled 94yd receiving on 6 receptions.

Baltimore (3-5) @ Cleveland (0-9)
after the first half we totalled -6 netto passing yards for a 0-24 Ravens lead.
Baltimore gave us the chance to come back a little to a 13-31 final score.
Morris Jells was good agian, 114yd rushing and also a 4yd TD reception.
Ronald Roiger made 10 tackles and 1.0 sacks.
Jason Sehorn made 2 interceptions.
Edgar Bennewith went out with a Hip Ointer on his first play, he will be 3rd choice next game.
Vincent Brisby will be replaced at split end by Skip Fitzgerald, because Brisby is questionable for the next game.

Cleveland (0-10) @ NY Giants (1-8)
Again, one team had to win.
After 30 minutes it was clear it would be the Giants, as the scored 31 points.
A final score of 7-38 showed we are the worst team by far...
Morris Jells ran only 4 times, for a total of 25yd (6.2 average.)
Third quarterback Darrin Joseph performed not bad with 11/14 (78%) 113yd (8.1 avg) 1 TD (7%) but also 2 int. (14%).
Ronnie Harnisch totalled 10 tackles and 4 assists.
Good news: Ernie Chechetts is fully recovered and will be back next weekend!

Tennessee (4-6) @ Cleveland (0-11)
Can you say big upset?
Yes: 13-10!
Our first win after 15 straight losses in regular season games.
Mo Zorn (punter) saved the day with a 37yd field goal.
Morris Jells was MVP though with 148yd and 1 TD rushing, together with 7 receptions for 82yd.
Darrin Joseph surpirsed again, starting as a back, but going 23/38 for 194yd, 0 TD and 1 int. He hereby made himself starting quarterback.

Washington (4-7) @ Cleveland (1-11)
Washington was favored by only 3 points.
Going into the second half with a 17-14 lead, we never gave away the lead anymore, for a second straight win: 24-20.
Morris Jells was outragegous: 164yd and 2 TD on 25 carries (6.5yd average), helped by 6 KRBs by Ruben Brown.
Joseph passed his worst game so far: 13/29 for 119yd and 3 int.
Ernie Chechetts was chosen MVP after making 11 tackles, 1.0 sacks and 1 interception.

Cleveland (2-11) @ Jacksonville (7-6)
The Jaguars really needed to win this one, while our #1 draft choice seems to be clinched. Not that we wnat to finish as worst team, but #1 overall could make a difference.
Going into the second half with a 14-0 lead, we were close to a 3-win streak, but...
The Jaguars revived in the last quarter for a 17-21 score, our 12th loss of the season.
Darrin Joseph looked nice again, with 24/40 (60%), 237yd (5.9 avg), 1 TD, 2 int.
Next game Bennewith will start again though.Ronnie Harnisch was this game's tackle taker with 10 tackles.

Cincinnati (7-6) @ Cleveland (2-12)
Again, a playoff contender.
Bengals beat us 15-33.
Morris Jells keeps on going wild with 114yd (7.1yd avg) and 1 TD.
Bennewith was bad with 3 interceptions, Jospeh will be the starter again next week.
Ernie Chechetts played his last game of the season, as he suffers from a bruised ribcage.

Seattle (5-10) @ Cleveland (2-13)
It was no good, 7-28.
Darrin Joseph had a day as he used to have with 23/39 for 227yd, 1 TD, 2 int.
Ronald Roiger made 12 tackles, 1 assist and 0.5 sacks.

The end of the season!
We finish dead last, as they call it, in the AFC Central with a 2-14 record.
Darrin Joseph lead or quarterback's with a 49.9 rating, 1094 yards, 54% completed passes and also 107 completions.
Morris Jells totalled 1,409yd and 2 TD on 246 carries. He leads the NFL in yards per carry with 5.7yd.
Jason Sehorn again grabbed 5 interceptions, together with 58 tackles, 16 assists and 1.0 sacks.
Robbie Harnisch totalled 89 tackles, 32 assists and 1 interception (TD.)
Ronald Roiger totalled 86 tackles, 35 assists and 7.0 sacks.
Darnell Campana totalled 81 tackles, 34 assists and 3 interceptions.
Ruben Brown finished second in the NFL with 39 KRBs with a 44%, but he also allowed 12 sacks.

A lot of players will be FA next season.
So I decide to negotiate contracts of some players:
Olin Kreuzt was signed for 3 more years.
Vincent Brisby for 2 more years.
Ronald Roiger for 2 more years.
Bennie Thompson for 1 more year.
15 players will get no new contract, including QB Jeff Lewis, P Mo Zorn, K Perry Griffin, LG Ronnie Hildebrandt and QB Edgar Bennewith.

Jason Sehorn was selcted into All League 2nd Team.
Mo Zorn was chosen All League 2nd Tream punter. (don't ask why, I just don't know.)

[This message has been edited by MIJB#19 (edited 10-25-2000).]