One of the many admirable qualities of Browns coach Romeo Crennel is his loyalty.

The man is fiercely loyal to the people he works for and to the people who work for him.

Twice, though, that loyalty was extended a tiny bit far — when he rode the Maurice Carthon offensive coordinator train too long, and when he went with Charlie Frye in the season opener a year ago, even though there was strong sentiment within the team to start Derek Anderson.

If Jim Brown is to be believed, there was strong sentiment to go with Brady Quinn at quarterback Sunday against the Bengals in Cincinnati.

That's what Brown told an Internet radio show, at least.

Evidently, Crennel disagreed.

To me, Crennel's decision is easy to support. But the goings-on certainly do not paint the picture of folks singing ''Kumbaya'' in the Browns meeting rooms.

Brown says one day that just about everybody he has talked to wants Quinn. (Of course, he also said he did not want to seem like he was favoring one quarterback over the other).

The next day, Crennel announces Anderson will start.

The cynic asks: Is it any wonder this team loses?

Then the realist takes over, and points to one factor that nobody has focused on all week: that the Bengals are worse at stopping the run than the Browns.

That might not seem possible, but it's true.

The Bengals are giving up 174.3 yards per game rushing.

That's a lot of yards.

Opposing backs have gained 4.7 yards per carry on the Bengals.

This seems to cry out . . . nay . . . scream for Jamal Lewis. The Browns have the chance this weekend to give the ball to Lewis 25 times, at least. And if they do, they have a good chance to win the game.

And if they do, they can help their quarterback. A year ago, the Browns used the down-the-field passing game to spread the defense and help the running game.

This year, they might have to use the running game to draw the safeties toward the line and then throw.

Whatever happens, Sunday is the day to rely on the run, on a back who wants to carry 25 times and can carry 25 times.

If they do that, they will help the head coach and the quarterback.

And they will take a step toward ensuring that this is not the third time Crennel's loyalty has gone too far.

After all, many thought that Crennel's consistent and steady approach was a big reason for the team's success a year ago.

MORE BROWNS

I heard from a good friend the other day who has been involved in professional football nearly his entire life.

We shall call him ''White Hat.'' (It's a Nashville thing; you wouldn't understand) ...

White Hat is a name clearly given to add more intrigue to the speaker and to make him more sinister. Sort of like those bozos who go on TV with their faces blurred and voices muffled.

Making a person more mysterious makes him more credible, right?

So . . . White Hat it is . . .

Bottom line: White Hat knows football. And he's a good, trustworthy guy (thus the White Hat).

He also had some very pointed things to say about the Browns.

''It doesn't matter,'' he said, ''if the owner is Art Modell, Al Lerner, Randy Lerner — or Elmer Fudd. As soon as the Browns taste a little success, it goes to their heads. Art gives Sam a contract extension, then fires him two months later. Art gives Marty an extension, then fires him. Art gives Bernie an extension, then cuts him. Al gives Butch an extension, then fires him.''

All pretty much factually accurate.

''Randy goes bonkers over last year's aberration and gives Phil, Romeo and DA extensions, and once again, eating contracts appears on Randy's menu after this season. One winning season and everybody believes we suddenly have a clone of the Patriots — pre-last week.''

Hmmm.

''I've never seen a franchise — imitated by its fans and media — that blows minute success out of proportion. I guess this franchise is so starved for some good times that it — and, yes, along with the fans and media — couldn't get a handle on reality.''

Double hmm.

''And reality is, everything went the Browns' way last season, including being free of major injury, a ridiculously easy schedule, players having career years and a quarterback falling out of the sky.''

Well, he technically did not fall out of the sky, but I guess we get the idea.

''Sure, this team could turn it around, but I'd be very surprised if they can rebound to even reach .500.

''I think the football gods, who blessed them last year, have cursed them this season (see injuries, tougher schedule, 'great players' looking merely average) because of all the bloated egos, the byproduct of unexpected success.

''I can see it now: Randy will give his trainers a raise and extensions because of all the injuries they've had to treat. Heck, they're about the only ones whose 'numbers' are higher then last year's. And we know what Browns owners do when their employees' numbers go up.

''So, as I see it, the best offseason move concerning the Browns is that I sold my six PSLs for a nice profit.

''And for that little bit of success, I will give myself a contract extension.''

Well, congratulations on the extension.

Why do I relate the insights and rantings of White Hat?

Because he pretty much demonstrates the frustration of the fans, whose good will has to hit a limit at some point in time.

Random thoughts

Guess it shouldn't be too surprising Jim Brown took his point to an Internet radio show (the ''Pro Football Central Radio Show'' hosted by Jim Giles).

For one, Brown always speaks his mind.

Remember when he defended team President John Collins when Collins was about to fire General Manager Phil Savage a couple of years back?

Then, too, radio shows are popular with the Browns and their former players who are close to the organization.

Brown speaks on the air. Bernie Kosar, who also is close to the owner, also appears frequently. And Savage has his show every Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Crennel speaks to the media every day, and sometimes is queried about the things other people say on the radio.

For some reason, this seems like a challenging dynamic for the coaching staff.

— Maybe we should all chip in to buy them noise-canceling headphones.

And while all this happens, the Browns still lack a second receiver, a secondary and a pass rush.

— Brown said there were a ton of meetings this week.

This seems to be a trend. It was last year that owner Randy Lerner convened a series of high-level meetings after the opening-game debacle.

The Browns then beat the Bengals.

Perhaps they're making it a tradition. Hold a bunch of meetings, beat the Bengals.

Except they forgot the part about trading the starting quarterback and promoting the backup.

— The Browns tell us that guard Eric Steinbach has strength issues in his shoulder and is week to week. Then John Clayton reports on ESPN.com that Steinbach separated the shoulder during the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will miss three to five weeks.

I'm not on the inside, but Clayton's news matched what I had heard in terms of potential time missed.

Technically, I guess, one must strengthen the shoulder after it is separated, and technically he is week to week.

Isn't everyone?

I just don't see the problem with saying ''he separated his shoulder'' if he separated his shoulder.

— New York Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner says the divisional setup in baseball is not fair because teams that finish third might have a better record than division winners.

What time does the Steinbrenner pity party begin?

It's not like the Steinbrenners can spend as much as they want to sign players.

— Of course, Steinbrenner the younger also said he was not knocking Joe Torre, whose Los Angeles Dodgers won the division with a record that wasn't as good as the Yankees' record.

No knock there at all.

Just like Jim Brown wasn't favoring one quarterback over the other.

— Nice effort by USC on Thursday night. Not like the players were counting that one as won before they played, was it?

Got ahead of themselves, that's what they did.

Thank goodness none of our local professional teams or players do such things.

— On that note, two words: Edwards. Braylon.

— The Browns simply cannot afford an 0-4 start, because that would effectively make the playoffs an unreachable goal. And it would make the final 12 games of the season an exercise in everything a professional season is not supposed to be.

It also would continue the disappointment started this summer when the Indians were out of things by late May.

An NFL season effectively over after four games?

When playoff hopes seemed legitimate?

Good grief.

Does this stuff happen anywhere else?

Browns 30, Bengals 28.

A pick based purely on hope.

— Until next time . . . there you have it.