NFL Network's whoring begins tonight: Browns v. Broncos

and for the record, I'm taking the Browns. A quick look at the odds (as always, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports) shows that the Browns are a 3 point home favorite, which is the standard spread. Basically, if not for being a home game, the Browns would be in a pick 'em game with the Broncos. Yes, both teams are that bad.

I'll take the Browns to win because of Brady Quinn. Yes, he's only had 1 day to prepare... but so has Denver's defense and they're not too good. Champ, McCree and Williams are all out... and are all key players on an already bad defense. Jay Cutler and the Broncos offense haven't been much of anything to write home about in about a month... and I just don't see them coming out of whatever hole they fell into tonight.

I hope all of you have the NFL Network, but if your issues have been anything like mine, you probably don't. I've had 3 cable companies in the last 3 years and 2 of the 3 actually carried it, which seems to me a surprisingly high percentage. I understand why the NFL would want games on their network (umm... money?) but I don't understand why they make their fans and teams go through this, especially starting in week 10 of the NFL season. Denver has to travel on a short week and the game is no picnic for the Browns either. It'd be a lot worse if either team actually played like a playoff contender. Next week's Thursday game (Jets v. New England) will feature 2 teams in the middle of a playoff hunt. It's just a bad idea (I think) that is solely motivated by money. As if the NFL was hurting for cash.

Anyway, consider this your open thread for all things Thursday night.