Dawg Days for Browns Get Worse

Eric Metcalf remembers when the Dawg Pound could intimidate an opposing player with a well-timed insult or well-aimed biscuit to the helmet.

Now, Cleveland Brown fans mostly pray for the game to end.

Steve Beuerlein and the Carolina Panthers became the latest NFL team to find out how nice a visit to Cleveland can be these days.

Beuerlein passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns and William Floyd had two short touchdown runs Sunday, leading the Panthers to a 31-17 rout of the Browns, who were again embarrassed in front of their home fans.

“It really wasn’t the same,” said Metcalf, a former star in Cleveland who now plays for the Panthers. “Not as loud. Of course, our play kept them quiet.”

The Panthers (4-6) didn’t let the home fans get riled up, dominating the Browns (2-9) from the start to drop Cleveland to 0-5 at home in ’99. The Browns have been outscored, 152-50, in their new $280-million home.

Carolina never got a chance to play in the old Cleveland Stadium, which with its rowdy Dawg Pound fans, sloppy field and claustrophobic locker rooms, was one of the toughest places to play in the league.

The new Cleveland Browns Stadium, boasting luxury boxes, spacious clubhouses and a great view from every seat, is much more inviting. Even the fans aren’t as intimidating.

Beuerlein went 21 for 27 with no interceptions, and Tshimanga Biakabutuka shook off an ankle sprain to rush for 93 yards. Muhsin Muhammad had seven catches for 72 yards.

“Any win is sweet,” said Beuerlein, replaced early in the fourth quarter. “You don’t get many easy ones in the NFL.”

Brown rookie quarterback Tim Couch went 29 for 46 for 259 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. However, Couch padded his stats late in the game.