Friday, October 31, 2008

Week 9: Browns vs. Ravens

I didn't have time this morning to post anything too significant, so this will have to do...

Sunday the Baltimore Ravens come into Cleveland Browns Stadium. Here's what we currently know about the AFC North:

  • The Browns have clawed their way back to a somewhat respectable 3-4, after starting out 0-3.
  • The Ravens are just one game ahead of the Browns in the AFC North at 4-3.
  • The Steelers, leaders of the AFC North sit at 5-2 with a tough Monday night matchup in Washington to face the Redskins.
  • No one cares about the Bengals (aside from their drunk hillbilly fans).
Why am I laying this all out? Because if everything aligns perfectly this weekend, by late Monday night the Steelers will be 5-3, the Browns 4-4, the Ravens 4-4, and the Bengals 0-8 (the bright side for them is they can't possibly lose this week). The problem is that we've seen these type of opportunities numerous times over the years and the Browns typically fail to capitalize when the pressure is on. So what should we expect on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium? Believe it or not, I actually have hope (that is not to be confused with expectations).

As the great Andy Dufresne said in Shawshank, "hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." We've learned to live by that motto in Cleveland. And when in doubt, but still full of hope, I find it best to modify my favorite Shawshank quote of them all, delivered by Red himself:

"I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a Browns fan can feel, a Browns fan at the start of a matchup with the Ravens whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope the good DA shows up. I hope to see my friend Braylon, and watch him actually hold onto the ball. I hope to see Jamal Lewis get even more carries than the 20 he had in my dreams. I hope. "

I'm calling on Red for some hope this Sunday at the Stadium

Remember no expectations, just hope. And full of hope I'm going with Browns 20, Ravens 13.

Cavs Update: I was at the Q last night for their home opener. And damn was it good to see the way they played. Aside from the third quarter, where they seemed mostly bored and toyed with Charlotte, they looked great on their way to a 96-79 victory. Mo Williams' contant pushing of the ball up the court was a sight for sore eyes. The team defense was outstanding for most of the night. Boobie Gibson's 25-point outburst was a thing of beauty, reminiscent of his Game 6 performance in the ECF vs. the Pistons. LeBron's thunderous dunks were expected. And J.J. Hickson's powerful first two NBA points were not-so-expected. Overall, a solid first win before they head off a couple road games. New Orleans and Dallas will be two good early season road tests for this Cavalier squad.

J.J. Hickson throws down his first NBA points

Thursday, October 30, 2008

You call that suffering?

One more thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post today... the Phillies were crowned world champs last night in a bizarre ending to a World Series that featured the first ever weather-suspended game and the lowest rated game of all time. The championship gave the 'long-suffering' Philadelphia fans their first world title in 25 years (the Sixers won the NBA crown in 1983). I have two things to say to Philly fans... first, congrats. And second, that is NOT suffering. Try this one on for size:

(If you want to watch the count get worse, just scroll down and look to your right)

Someday there will be rejoicing in Cleveland like we saw last night in the City of Brotherly Love. I just hope I'm still alive to see it happen.

Home cooking

Basketball is finally back in the Q tonight as the Cavs have their home opener vs. Charlotte at 7:00pm. I'll be in attendance and I'm looking forward to another fun and hopefully dominant home campaign for the wine and gold. These are the type of games where in the past the Cavs have had the tendency to play down to their competition. Don't get me wrong, there is some good young talent on the Bobcats roster... but this is not a team that the Cavaliers should ever lose to at home.

Home court will need to be an even bigger advantage for the Cavs this year

Expectations are high for us this year, and many so-called experts have picked the Cavs to win updwards of 55 games this year. That's a tall task for any NBA team, but the real key to success like that starts with a great home record. Here's a look at what this franchise has accomplished inside the friendly confines of the Q in the LeBron Era:

2003-04: 23-18
2004-05: 29-12
2005-06: 31-10
2006-07: 30-11
2007-08: 27-14
=================
Total: 140-65 (.682)

So there has obviously been home success since LeBron arrived. But to have a season that approaches the Cavaliers' all-time best of 57-25 (accomplished twice, in the 88-89 season and the 91-92 season) they will need to do better. I'm thinking something like 35-6 at home and then go .500 on the road. We'll see how it all unfolds in the coming months, but the path to success at home for the Cavs starts tonight in a very winnable game. Time to take care of business before heading back out on the road to face the Hornets and Mavericks...

Other Cavs Notes: Mo Williams is remaining optimistic after an 'average' Cavalier debut in Boston... LeBron had his '60 Minutes' of fame yesterday... Terry Pluto has more scribbles in his notebook about the Cavaliers... And as I could have already told you, the Cavs are near the top 10 priciest tickets in the NBA. What do you expect when you get to see LeBron 41 times a year?

Browns Update: In light of the Browns' goal-line struggles so far this season, could we see a new fullback leading the charge? I'd be surprised if they went that route, but I have to admit, it would be something to see... A decision on Joe Jurevicius' season is due soon and it's not looking good for #84. If he is done for the year, I really hope he tries to stick around for one more. He just can't go out like this... ESPN is still not believing in the Browns in their latest power rankings. Can't blame them there... I think they will have me fully sucked back in if they can win Sunday and Thursday. 5-4 going into the Monday Nighter in Buffalo would be a lot of fun.

"You know what? We talked about that [playing Shaun Rogers at fullback] a little bit," coach Romeo Crennel disclosed on Wednesday.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

D'oh-and-1

Not the way we wanted to start the season last night for the Cavaliers. I followed my own cardinal rule and resisted the urge to post something immediately after the game last night to give myself a chance to react in a more rational manner. I think it helped a little bit, but I'm still ticked off by the whole thing. 50 points at halftime and then only 35 in the second half. Ugh. Here are some thoughts I need to pour out after the 90-85 loss in Boston:

  • LeBron - He showed the flashes of brilliant athleticism we all love about him. He worked hard to be a distributor for much of the first half, trusting his teammates. And he showed that his free throw shooting still leaves a ton to be desired. I hate to pick on LBJ, but this has to stop. Teams will be fouling him at the end of every game and he needs to step up to the line and knock them down. We shouldn't still be harping on this going into his sixth season now.
There will be plenty more battles between these two before the season is over
  • Mo Williams - There was good and bad with Mo last night. First the good... he pushed the tempo in a fashion we just haven't seen with these Cavaliers. That created some easy fast break points. He also is not afraid to take the big shot and I'm sure it will result in some huge scoring nights for him down the road. Now the bad... he just seemed careless with the ball at times. Way too many bad turnovers (4 for him on the night). And his perimeter defense on Rajon Rondo was awful. It reminded me of the playoff series last year with Rondo constantly blowing by defenders to the basket for an easy layup or two free throws. That needs to stop too.
  • Z - The big man will always be a target among certain Cavalier fans because of his slow feet and two or three guaranteed traveling calls a night on moves to the hoop. But Z is consistent. His 15 points and 8 boards from last night can basically be penciled into the box score every single game. And his mid-range jumper is a huge asset to the Cavs when teams collapse on LeBron in the paint. I will always love Z on the Cavs for what he brings on a nightly basis. He is what he is and everyone should know what to expect from him by now.
  • Boobie - There was also good and bad here. I liked the way he aggressively drove to the basket on a couple occassions. And he seemed much more comfortable handing the PG duties (mainly his ballhandling) with the second unit. But he was way off on his outside shot last night, missing a few wide open looks that he usually knocks down. But he's too good a shooter for that to continue for too long.
  • Sasha Pavlovic - What can you say about him that hasn't already been said a million times? He had a nice drive to the basket for a strong layup over two defenders. He confidently knocked down a jumper in the 4th quarter. Then later in the 4th he put his head down and plowed into the lane where three defenders were waiting to take the easy charge. And he missed a big free throw after that. I could have written the same thing about him 4 years ago and probably 4 years from now. He's like a Serbian robot that's auto-programmed to never change.
  • Lorenzen Wright - He worked hard from what I saw. He knocked down a nice jumper early in the game. Then reminded us why he probably shouldn't be shooting much when he missed another one later. He looked to me like a slight upgrade over Dwayne Jones, at least in the sense that he can occassionally put the ball in the basket. No more, no less.
  • Wally Szczerbiak - Same struggling defender, and same struggling outside shooter. I just wish he would be the consistent shooter that he seemed to be before he arrived in Cleveland. That would make his defensive deficiencies a little easier to swallow.
  • Ben Wallace - He grabbed four rebounds and had a nice strong one-handed dunk on his long FG attempt. It appeared as if he is in great shape and his back didn't bother him at all. But he played a puzzling 19 minutes on the night. Not sure what's up with that.
  • Anderson Varejao - Maybe the lone bright spot on the night for the Cavs. He was all over the floor in his 25 minutes of action. He ended up with 9 points and 9 rebounds (4 offensive) and even played some nice one-on-one defense on Paul Pierce to force a miss late in the game before the missed free throws from LBJ. This is the Andy that Cleveland fans love and are looking forward to this season. He is definitely playing for a new contract now.
  • Delonte West - I love his game, I just wish he'd be more proactive offensively. He played 35 minutes and only took 4 shots. I'm not sure if it's a confidence thing with him, but he seems too tentative at times. He should be more comfortable than he is with this team.
  • Coach Brown - Not his strongest performance rotation-wise. Maybe it's just because it was the first game and he's still feeling things out. But that second unit that was out there late in the first quarter was simply baffling: Boobie-Sasha-Wally-Wright-Andy. Who was going to score when they were on the floor together? And I'm not going to fault him for not throwing rookie J.J. Hickson out there in that game. At this point I expect Hickson to see spot minutes, or appear in longer stretches in garbage time. But he will clearly have to earn a spot in the regular rotation. Nothing will be handed to him.
That's all for now. I'm done with that game. I hate the Celtics and really don't wanna think about them anymore until the next time we face them (January 9th). I'm looking ahead to the home opener tomorrow night against the Bobcats.

Browns Update: With all the distractions supposedly behind them, it's back to football... Tony Grossi gives a scouting report for Sunday's matchup with the Ravens at the Stadium... The Browns claim their confidence is growing with each victory. A win Sunday would give me a little confidence in this team... And is Romeo Crennel the reason the Browns are still in it? I doubt many fans of the orange and brown will say yes to that.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The wait is finally over

We've been counting down the days for a while now, so it's hard to believe the 2008-09 NBA season is finally upon us. The Cavaliers will kick the season off in style tonight, facing the Boston Celtics at 8:00pm in front of a national audience on TNT. But what should we expect from the wine and gold this year? I see big things ahead...

Is this the year that LBJ will hoist an even better trophy?

First, my fearless predictions:

Overall record: 56-26
This is the deepest Cavalier team since LeBron has arrived. We've all seen what LeBron can do without a lot of help. So how will the team be now that it has depth? If they stay healthy I think they will finally take the Central division crown away from the Pistons. And that's just for starters...

NBA MVP: LeBron James
Who else is there? Spare me your Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Paul arguments. This will be the first of many of these trophies for King James.

Eastern Conference Champs: Cleveland Cavaliers
This is not at all dismissing the Celtics. I wasn't a believer in them at all last year. I didn't buy into the hype. But then I saw their suffocating defense in our playoff series and I knew I had underestimated them. They squeaked out a win in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year and that was basically their NBA title right there.

So what will happen this year? As I said, the Cavaliers are deeper. They won't have more midseason chemistry issues in turning over half their roster in a big trade. They didn't have the contract holdouts of last year. This team is focused and ready. Oh, and they have LeBron. I think they will grab home court advantage over the Celtics and that will be the difference in the end.

NBA Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers
Why the hell would I be wasting my time writing this blog if I didn't think that a Cleveland team would finally break through and win it all? I don't know which team will come out of the West this year, but I do know there will be no sweeping this Cavaliers squad when they get back into the Finals. Whether it be the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, or whomever... they will have to go through LeBron and his much deeper supporting cast. The Cavaliers have built a franchise around LeBron that expects to win multiple championships. And I think #1 (the sweetest one) will occur this June. And I can't wait to watch it unfold.

Caveats
Of course with all I've said above there always has to be a little luck involved. I'm making the following assumptions, in no particular order:
  • LeBron James will stay relatively healthy. This means he won't miss any more than his typical 5-7 games with minor ankle injuries and such. True, the Cavaliers are much deeper than in the past. But let's not kid ourselves. #23 makes all these lofty hopes possible.
  • The front court players will also stay relatively healthy. The good news is that Anderson Varejao is in shape and in a contract year. I expect big things from him. More worrisome are the backs of Zydrunas Ilguaskas and Ben Wallace. We need those guys to stay off the injury report to have this team playing in top form. We also have Lorenzen Wright and JJ Hickson to assist, but at this point I don't know how fair it is to expect much from an aging vet and a rookie. Darnell Jackson could also end up in the mix once he recovers from the wrist injury.
  • Mo Williams will perform as advertised. I'm not so worried about this one. I know he has tremendous talent and the desire to fit in on the defensive side of the ball. I just don't want this to be the second coming of Larry Hughes. I had high hopes for him too and he consistently disappointed all of us. But I don't see Mo having those same problems.
  • We pull off another trade at the deadline. We have Wally Sczcerbiak's $14M expiring contract to play with and you know Ferry will use it at some point. This is the one wild card that could really propel the Cavaliers from contender to the team to beat. Ferry has shown us that he's not afraid to make a deal, but always with an eye on the summer of 2010. This will be the year that we will have to take on a contract past 2010, so it better be the right one for the Cavs this season and beyond.
This could be a special year for Cavs fans everywhere. It starts tonight with a chance to send a message to the defending champs the night they collect their rings and the banner is lowered. That should be motivation enough to start the season out right, even if the Cavaliers won't be watching.

Other Cavs Notes: Brian Windhorst gives a nice piece on coach Mike Brown... LeBron and the Cavs are following my lead by skipping the pre-game party in Boston tonight... Mike Brown is still evaluating the starting 2-guard spot... And Bob Finnan has another profile of the Cavs' head man.
"We don't need to be out there watching that, we need to get ready for the game," James said before the team left for Boston. Congratulations to them. But we're not [like] the fans of Boston. We don't need to be out there clapping for them getting rings."

Monday, October 27, 2008

They just won't go away

I knew it. Just when we stop caring about the Browns and move on to the start of the NBA season, they suck us back in. I called it on Friday and I was even close with the score, I just didn't anticipate Shaun Rogers' rejection of that Josh Scobee FG attempt. So with their big 23-17 victory (highlights here) over the Jaguars on Sunday, the Browns have kept their season alive and have undoubtedly stirred up more talk of moving on without Kellen Winslow.

Of course in typical Browns fashion, they just couldn't make it easy. They failed to capitalize twice in the fourth quarter. The first time they got down to first-and-goal from inside the 1 yard line and couldn't punch it into the end zone, settling for a field goal. Then on the ensuing kickoff they forced a fumble, recovered it at the Jacksonville 25, and again walked away with only three points. So clinging to a 6-point lead they naturally let the Jags drive down to the 30-yard line (with no timeouts) and for a few harrowing moments it looked like Matt Jones would haul in a bobbling touchdown catch to steal victory away from the good guys. But Nick Sorensen jumped in at the last second to break up the play, yet amazingly one tick still remained on the game clock. But after one final David Garrard heave into the end zone sailed harmlessly out of play, the Browns finally could breathe a sigh of relief.

'Good DA' stuck around for most of the game on Sunday and the Browns won

This game was both fun and maddening at the same time. It was the standard Jekyll and Hyde-type performance from Derek Anderson that we have grown accustomed to. He didn't have the greatest game ever (14-27, 236 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT), particularly in the 2nd half, but he made enough big plays to put some much-needed points on the scoreboard. And offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinsky deserves a pat on the back for the game he called yesterday.The 51-yard gain on a bootleg to Steve Heiden on 4th-and-1 was a stroke of genius that allowed the Browns to continue to play from ahead in the first half.

I could nitpick about some other things in this win but I won't. Well, besides the two or three completely obviously illegal blocks in the back on Josh Cribbs during second half kick coverage. They happened literally right in front of the refs and nothing was called. I rewound my DVR feed a few times after the game just to see them again and I was stunned they weren't called. And by the way, Cribbs was back to his old self, flying all over the field on special teams again and was the one that recovered that huge fumble on the kickoff in the 4th quarter. But I digress. A win's a win for these Browns and we'll take them however they come. Baltimore is up next and I don't even want to start thinking about that one.

Other Browns Notes: Terry Pluto is shocked by the Browns' victory after a bizarre week... And Bud Shaw has to go K2 on us right after another win... If we didn't already know it, now we do: Shaun Rogers is a beast... Pat McManamon agrees that the Browns are at their best with their backs against the wall... I wish all this would just go away, but apparently it hasn't yet... And if anyone is interested, I made the right fantasy call this week with Garrard over DA.

Cavs Update: Tomorrow the regular season starts. That makes me very happy. I'll give a mini season preview then. For today, the news is light. Brian Windhorst gives some tip-off thoughts for the 2008-09 campaign... And it looks like Delonte West has stolen the starting 2-guard spot... much more tomorrow when I have more time.
“I thought they worked well together. With [Delonte], LeBron and Mo out on the floor, you have three legitimate playmakers. All of those guys know how to play together.”
- Mike Brown

Friday, October 24, 2008

Week 8: Browns @ Jaguars

Let me just start by saying I hate fantasy football. I swore it off after last season, claiming that I wouldn't be in another pay league this year, again giving my money away to the rest of the league. I don't have the patience to draft properly, nor the interest to keep making prudent moves every week with all the injuries, bye weeks, etc. So what happened when my neighbor down the street asked me to join his CBS Sportsline fantasy leauge this year? Of course I said yes.

Even worse, when drafting I went against my own cardinal rule - never, never, EVER draft players from the Browns. It will inevitably lead to a curse on that player, and even worse from a fantasy perspective, stubbornness in realizing when it's time to cut ties with said player. So why am I explaining all this here? Because Week 8 features the Browns in Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. And of course my two fantasy quarterback options are Derek Anderson and David Garrard.

I'll give you a second to stop laughing about my DA pick... OK, done? Well on the night of my draft I was actually hoping and praying that Anderson would be gone when it was time to fill the QB slot, I think in Round 3. But of course I was seduced by the thought of DA in the second year of Chud's offense, surrounded by Braylon Edwards, Donte (now "Dainty") Stallworth, K2, Jamal Lewis, etc. And of course DA was still there when my pick was up and as I watched the draft clock ticking down I knew I shouldn't pull the trigger... but I did. (I wonder how many NFL GM's feel the same way on the real draft day? Do they too talk themselves into picks like that?)

So anyway, now I have to decide which quarterback to give the start this Sunday. I obviously should have already cut ties with DA, but the stubbornness I referred to just won't let me do it yet. I'm still convinced that he can pull out a big game or two before Brady Quinn finally gets the full-time job. And that's not to say I think DA is a good quarterback anymore. I actually think he's a poor decision-maker and a guy who needs to be in a rhythm to succeed. And that's something that just will never lead to success on the Browns with guys routinely dropping catchable passes or running the wrong routes altogether. Yes, he has a cannon for an arm (which was unfortunately on display on some short passes to Jamal last week), but what other redeeming qualities are there? I have ultimately decided to give the start this week to Garrard, for the sole reasoning that my benching of DA will propel the Browns to a win.

Garrard gets the nod in a tough fantasy call this week

What do I actually think will happen on Sunday? I really don't know. But history suggests that these Browns seem play their best football when their backs are against the wall. Look no further than the Giants game two weeks ago, or the Cincy game in Week 2 last year, or both Ravens games last year. Something in Romeo Crennel's team seems to shine when the axe is ready to fall on his neck (or at least the chubby spot under his head where his neck should be). I don't know why but I'm going with Browns 23, Jags 20.

Other Browns Notes: K2 is definitely out for Sunday's game, his appeal set for Tuesday... Pat McManamon says the Browns should just release Winslow... Terry Pluto says the Browns' biggest letdown is Braylon's drops... And ESPN's 'expert panel' currently has the Jags winning across the board (although three picks still remain as of 11:30 on Friday) so you just know the Browns will somehow pull this one out, right?

Cavs Update: Only 4 days left... the Cavaliers will finally put the preseason to bed with their finale against the Wizards in Columbus on glorious ESPN-HD tonight at 8:00... Ronald Dupree was the final roster cut yesterday, and Jawad Williams is thrilled to be home... It looks like Delonte West is getting the start tonight. Could this mean that Sasha has fallen out of the rotation yet again? And does this mean that Boobie will be the true backup PG? We'll know soon enough... And the Cavs are running with Mo when they have the chance.
"I'm not going to celebrate, but I think my family will celebrate. For me the process is never over, I have to continue to work hard and prove I belong." - Jawad Williams

Thursday, October 23, 2008

More bad publicity

So I was watching all the cable news channels last night, flipping around to get all the perspectives (I admit, I'm somewhat addicted during election season even though I can't wait for it to just all be over). On CNN I noticed something to this effect scroll across the bottom of the screen: "Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow to appeal his one-game suspension - AP."

Now I know going into this season the Browns were expecting lots of attention. With five prime time games on the schedule the team was hoping that all of the media focus would be based on what was happening on the field. Somewhere I'm sure Phil Savage was just shaking his head at the latest embarrassment for this franchise yesterday. Now everyone knows that not only have the 2008 Cleveland Browns underachieved, they've also managed to get caught up in a PR mess that doesn't figure to disappear anytime soon.

Good luck trying to cheer us up this year Phil

I defended K2 yesterday, but upon hearing that he is now appealing his one-game suspension I'm done defending him. It looks to me like this is all a ploy to keep his game check ($235K) that he is scheduled to miss during his suspension. I gave him the benefit of the doubt yesterday, assuming that he spoke out in frustration. But given that his agent is the one-and-only Drew Rosenhaus, Winslow's history of injuries that have likely shortened his career, and his longing for a new contract, this whole scenario just screams 'Pay me or I'll make a mess for you.' And if that's the case it is despicable, embarrassing, and completely unacceptable.

"As a grown man, if you make your bed, you have to lay in it. I'm not Kellen Winslow. I don't really understand what's going on with him and the team. I'm sure he felt he did what he needed to do." - Darnell Dinkins

Winning usually cures most ills for a team but I'm not sure even that (as unlikely as it seems with these up-and-down Browns) would help with K2. The Browns are nearing a crossroads with him and it just might be time to cut ties and rid the team of yet another distraction that they just don't need.

Other Browns Notes: Steve Heiden is hurting, but still expects to play Sunday vs. the Jags... And speaking of tight ends (that seems to be all we're talking about today), rookie Martin Rucker may be activated for Sunday's game. Yet another indication that K2 is expendable? I guess we'll have to see how he does, but we already know we have two decent stop-gaps in Heiden and Dinkins, so the more the merrier... I'll give my fearless prediction for Sunday right here tomorrow and you just might be surprised.

Cavs Update: The Cavaliers sleepwalked their way to a 97-79 loss to the Pistons last night in their almost-preseason-finale. Not exactly the best way to debut themselves to basketball-starved fans on Fox Sports Ohio's only preseason telecast. But when you take into account that #23 was a DNP for the night, I think we can all agree that this game doesn't mean jack$hit. They will finally end their marathon of a preseason tomorrow night on ESPN against the Wizards... The Cavs are expected to make their final roster announcement today so we'll see if Jawad Williams or Ronald Dupree will be the last man standing... I always like to read Brian Windhorst's take on these preseason games, so here you go if you didn't already see it... Dan Labbe put together a nice piece today on how the Cavs stack up to Cleveland's other pro teams... And finally, Bob Finnan reports that LeBron James was already crowned the league's MVP in a preseason NBA poll of general managers. Way to go out on a limb there guys!

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008-09 MVP

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

K2 out & Cavs season fast approaching

First order of business today - Kellen Winslow was suspended for one game by the Browns yesterday. He will miss the Jacksonville game on Sunday and isn't allowed to re-join the team until Monday. While the suspension is completely justified, I'm actually quite surprised that the Browns did it. This seems a little out of character for them and illustrates just how upset Phil Savage must have been after the reported 'heated exchange' he had with K2 outside of the Browns locker room after Sunday's loss to the Redskins. Here are pieces of what Savage had to say yesterday:

"The Cleveland Browns are committed to winning and taking care of our players. We are also committed to protecting the privacy of our players, particularly with regard to medical issues. To that end, following discussions with Kellen Winslow and his representation, the Browns agreed to make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of his recent medical condition."

"Kellen has expressed his desire to be a productive member of the Cleveland Browns. His comments and behavior on Sunday evening, however, were unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization. His statements brought unjustified negative attention to our organization, and violated the team-first concept of our football squad. Therefore, disciplinary action will be taken in the form of a one-game suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the club."

And part of Winslow's response:

"I remain loyal to the Browns organization, my teammates, the fans and the city of Cleveland. I remain a hard worker on and off the field in support of my teammates and our goal to have a winning season. I hope to be a Brown for a very long time. I know that the organization and I can move forward and focus on having a successful season, which I believe everybody agrees upon."

I don't envy Phil Savage's job at all. He has been trying to rid this franchise of its downtrodden image ever since he arrived in Cleveland. Now he has this mess to deal with on two levels. The first is figuring out what to do with Winslow. And the second is convincing the players that they are safe from staph infections.

I can go either way with Winslow. On the one hand, I'm a huge fan of the guy's passion and heart. Many people still tend to villanize him for his 'soldja' comments he made years ago. Or his boneheaded decision to recklessly ride his motorcycle which obviously led to some very serious injuries and directly hurt his career. But I look at what he went through to get back onto the field and then how he performed last season when he clearly was not 100% physically. He is a warrior on the field and he wants to win as much as anyone in the NFL. But on the other hand, he needs to realize that the team is bigger than just him. He cannot put Savage or the organization in this position and think there will be no consequences. I'm glad Savage stepped in and acted swiftly, but I wonder where this leads regarding Winslow's future with the Browns. I guess time will tell.

And as far as the staph infection thing goes, I don't know how you handle that one. It really sounds like the Browns have done everything they can to find the source of the problem. And I work for the Cleveland Clinic, so I'm not even gonna touch that one. But I do see other guys in other organizations go through this too (Tom Brady anyone?) so who knows where this is really coming from. I'm definitely not scientifically qualified to speculate, but I would be concerned if I was a player on the Browns or any other NFL team for that matter.

Cavs Update: Only six days away now. The Cavs collected their second win of the preseason last night in Philadelphia with a 91-83 win over the Sixers. LeBron led the way with 20 points in 25 minutes, as all of the starters' playing time increased in preparation for the regular season. Boobie Gibson also chipped in 17 off the bench with a nice 6-of-9 shooting night, including 3-of-5 from long range.

Mo also added 13 for the wine and gold

The Cavs will head to Detroit tonight to take on the Pistons in their second-to-last preseason game and this one will finally be on Fox Sports Ohio. And speaking of Fox Sports Ohio, there were some excellent Cavs-related programs on last night, particularly 'Cavs Spotlight: Joe Tait' and 'Cavs Spotlight: Daniel Gilbert'. Here is the broadcast schedule that show's all the dates and times they will be re-run. Excellent viewing to get you ready for the season.

Monday, October 20, 2008

More embarrassment, courtesy of the orange and brown

Stop me if you've heard this one before... the Browns came out flat, DA looked terrible, the receivers (well, Braylon) dropped many catchable balls, the defense couldn't stop the run, the coaching staff looked overmatched, timeouts were squandered, and the clock was mismanaged down the stretch. We often complain about consistency with this franchise, but one thing has been consistent since 1999. Losing.

14-for-37, but undoubtedly DA still has a firm grasp on the starting job... where's Brady?

Their latest loss is another head-scratcher, mainly because the Redskins are possibly the worst 5-2 team I've ever seen. I'll give credit to their physical defense - they hit the Browns hard all game - but other than that, Washington is very beatable. They were practically begging the Browns to at least tie the game up as the clock wound down yesterday. And instead of taking advantage, the Browns offense sputtered again, just like it had all day. They ended up settling for a 54-yard field goal attempt by Phil Dawson that everyone watching the game not named Crennel knew had no chance.

But I was actually glad the game came down to that kick. We all know if they would have picked up that first down, panic would have ensued and the clock probably would have run out on them. Has this team ever heard of spiking the ball to preserve the clock? I can't remember them doing it once so far this entire season. The sense of urgency in every aspect of this team seems to be non-existent, aside from the beatdown of the Giants last week.

So where does the team go from here? At 2-4 they head to Jacksonville next week to face a team that is certainly better than the Redskins. And now they have a PR nightmare on their hands (again). More on that in a second. This team supposedly plays its best when their backs are against the wall. Next Sunday would certainly qualify. But the real question I have - as a Cleveland fan, how much longer should I really care? How much more time should I invest in a lost cause? And how much longer till the Cavs hit the court?
"A big reason I'm upset right now has to do with [the staph infection]. I heard from Romeo Crennel and I heard from my position coach [Alfredo Roberts] when I was in the Clinic. I heard from my teammates. But I never heard from the main man -- Phil Savage -- and that really disappoints me. Sometimes I don't even feel a part of this team." - Kellen Winslow

Other Browns Notes: More on the whole K2 situation - this is what happens when an organization is so secretive about its injuries. The Browns never really let the public know anything about possible injuries. So everyone assumes the worst. Rumors fester and inevitably a guy like Winslow gets embarrassed by everything that is now out there. I'm sure he was frustrated after yesterday's loss and let off some steam by talking to the media. But the Browns need to change the culture in that locker room. Phil Savage talked about getting rid of the 'woe is me' attitude upon his arrival. It was gone briefly during last season's success, but it is back again in a big way. And frankly, we're all sick of it... Braylon Edwards says his frustration yesterday led to his poor showing. Shouldn't a Pro Bowl receiver be better than that?... Terry Pluto weighs in on yet another loss in a pointless season... Tony Grossi's noon chat should be an entertaining one today.

Cavs Update: Thankfully the Cavs' offseason is finally coming to an end. We are almost there - only 8 more days. They were able to grab their first win of the preseason on Saturday night with a 100-93 victory over the Sixers. They will face the Sixers again tomorrow night, with only two tune-ups remaining after that.

After publicly admitting his emotional issues that kept him away from the team for 12 days, Delonte West had a very nice game on Saturday... Ben Wallace says he's happy just being a role player now. Umm, hasn't he always been pretty much a role player?... Mike Brown says the starting 2-guard spot is still up for grabs... And Mo Williams was actually ejected from a preseason game on Saturday night, LOL.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Week 7: Browns @ Redskins

Sunday, October 19
4:15pm, CBS-HD
FedExField, Landover, MD

Here we are, already moving into Week 7 of the NFL season. The Browns have won two straight after their dismal 0-3 start and have sucked many doubters right back into their typically frustrating roller coaster style of play. They will face the Redskins in another late Sunday start, this time at 4:15. With a short week to prepare after the Monday night game this week, what should we expect? As always, your guess is as good as mine.

Keys to the game:
  • Establish an early lead. The Browns were able to do that against the Giants and it allowed them to keep their offense balanced, instead of abandoning the running game.
  • Stick to the plan. The offense had a banner day on Monday night with a lot of plays that seemed to surprise the Giants. Chud surely has more of those plays up his sleeve and it's time to showcase all of them with this offense.
  • Put pressure on the quarterback. Jason Campbell is still fairly inexperienced. To me, he's more of a 'game manager' than a 'game changer.' But if the Browns can find a way to keep utilizing some of the blitzes they showed on Monday, them might be able to force Campbell to make some throws he's not comfortable making.
  • Stay focused. The Browns need to avoid all the false starts, illegal shifts, and illegal formation penalties that have seemed to plague them all year. They were able to get away with that at home, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea to start pulling that crap on the road.
  • Play like the underdog. We all know the Browns have a hard time dealing with success. They are better when expectations are low. I hope they won't be puffing their chests too much after the MNF win. There is plenty of business left to be handled and simply getting back to .500 needs to be an immediate goal.
With all that said, I'm awfully worried about this game. I just don't see the Browns being able to stay as focused as they were coming out of the bye week. I can envision a close game, coming down to the wire with the Browns in their frazzled, clock-wasting version of the 2-minute offense. That will spell trouble in the road. I'm going with Redskins 24, Browns 17. I hope I'm wrong.

Other Browns Notes: K2 looks to be practicing today, and wants to play on Sunday... If he is unavailable against the Redskins, Tony Grossi wonders if Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins can have the same impact in this game... At least Braylon Edwards and DA have found their 'freaky rhythm'... And the Redskins are a little banged up this week, so maybe we are catching them at a good time.

Cavs Update: The Cavs dropped their fourth straight preseason game last night at the Q, 91-70 to the Spurs. I'd like to say I'm not at all worried because it's just the preseason... but I think I said the same thing about the Browns. It looks like it was just a bad shooting night all around for the team. Delonte I can understand because he's been out of camp. Mo's 3-for-14 on the other hand... yikes.

Where the hell has Pop been hiding all summer?
I think he scared some small children out of the Q last night.

Brian Windhorst says not to worry, and he is the expert so I'll go with him. BW also had a nice video chat yesterday that's worth a look and listen. 11 days until the real season starts...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thursday thoughts

A few thoughts this Thursday that I wanted to throw out randomly...

  • It's chilly in Cleveland today after being almost uncomfortably muggy yesterday. It looks like fall is really here and soon winter will be too. Ugh.
  • I still can't believe how the Browns completely dismantled the Giants on Monday night. Reflecting on it after a couple days, I honestly think it was the best Browns game I've ever been to in person (keeping in mind that the only real competition for that crown was the win over Atlanta in the season finale in 2002 and I didn't regularly start attending games until the reincarnation of the franchise in 1999).
This pretty much sums up Eli's night on Monday
  • These have been some lean years for us Browns fans, with makes the first Monday night win since 1993(!) against the Super Bowl champs that much sweeter. I rather enjoyed the game replay last night on NFL Network HD and of course DVR'd it for future viewing pleasure.
  • I have my doubts whether the Browns can have an encore performance this Sunday on the road after a short week of preparation for the Redskins. But it seems like the Browns are at their best when little is expected of them. So I will keep my expectations low for the foreseeable future in hopes that it will magically propel them to victories.
  • I hope the 'Flash Package' and other Chud gadgets are used more on offense in the coming weeks. The Giants looked totally confused every time Cribbs lined up at quarterback, and the double reverse play to Harrison was a thing of beauty. And the NFL Films replays really showed how the Giants over-pursued the play from the start.
  • I want Kellen Winslow to completely recover from whatever undisclosed illness is bothering him. First, I don't want him needlessly rushed back if he's not healthy yet (and you know it's just killing him to not be on the field). And second, the offense really clicked with Heiden and Dinkins. No need to mess with that unless K2 is 100% - or as close as he can be after all the leg injuries he has sustained.
  • The Browns just might be onto something with their young secondary. Brodney Pool, Brandon McDonald, and Eric Wright all had key interceptions on Monday night (none bigger than Wright's beautiful 94-yard TD return to seal it). All off-season there were calls to shore up the secondary with a veteran cornerback, but Phil Savage resisted the urge to overpay an aging veteran and stick with the youngsters. So far they have played pretty well this season. And that's not even mentioning Sean Jones who is still recovering from a knee scop, but expected to play this Sunday.
  • Only 12 days left until the Cavs begin their season. Yes, I'm sick of the countdown too. I just want the season to start now. They have another meaningless preseason game tonight against the Spurs at the Q. I'd like to go, but I know I'd be regretting it by the third quarter when the NBDLers are running around out there.
  • Delonte West finally returned to camp yesterday. Maybe it is a good thing that we still have a few more preseason games to play. I want him ready to go to start the year. And it's nice to hear that Ben and Sasha also returned to full practice. Now let's just keep these guys healthy.
“He’s a big part of our team. It’s good to have him back. It’s good to see him high-spirited and concentrating on the game of basketball.” -
LeBron James on Delonte West's return

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Did that really happen???

Wow. All I can say is wow. We actually do have an NFL team again. What a great win last night. I don't think I would have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes inside the Stadium. The Browns dismantled the Giants, outplaying them in every way possible en route to a huge 35-14 win that just may have saved their season (very fun highlights here).

Eric Wright seals it with his 96-yard interception return for a TD

Where has this offense been in the first four games? I know Ryan Tucker was finally back from his hip injury - does he really make the line that much better? DA seemed to have all day to throw on his way to 18-of-29 for 310 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. And I have to say that Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins stepped up in a big way in the absence of Kellen Winslow, combining for 6 catches, 81 yards, and a touchdown. And Braylon Edwards finally had his breakout game with 5 catches for 154 yards, a touchdown, and a two-point conversion. He beat Aaron Ross like a drum all game long.

The Browns even mixed it up offensively with the run, gaining another 144 yards on the ground. When was the last time you saw this team go an entire game without a punt? Savor last night's rare feat because that may not happen again for a long time. Their signature drive started with 8:11 left in the third quarter and ended 87 yards later (112 if you count a bunch of silly penalties) with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Edwards.

And the Browns came up equally huge on defense forcing 3 Eli Manning interceptions, including the game clinching 96-yard touchdown return by Eric Wright. We can forgive him for dropping an earlier interception after watching that play unfold. And I love Jim Donovan's call of that play starting around the 3:25 mark in the highlights above. Goosebump-inducing, reminiscent of his "Run William, run!" call back in 2002.

So where do the Browns go from here? Your guess is as good as mine. I expected a 34-13 Giants loss last night and got a 35-14 win. What do I expect this Sunday when the Browns travel to Washington to face the Redskins? I'll let you know later in the week. For now, let's bask in the warm glow of a big victory on national TV. It's been a long time coming for this team and it feels good to have a little pride restored in these guys.

Other Browns Notes: Terry Pluto gives his post-game scribbles from the big victory... Braylon Edwards was finally able to quiet some critics after his big game... James Walker talks about how the Browns kept their season alive... And don't forget Tony Grossi's podcast today. I'm sure he'll be just as shocked as the rest of us.

Monday, October 13, 2008

I'm ready for some football

It's been 15 days since a regular season game was played among any of our sports teams. There has been nothing since September 28th. So yes Hank Williams Jr., I'm ready for some football. Actually, I'm more ready for some tailgating, followed by likely disappointment inside the Stadium. I don't think that's being a pessimist, just a realist. Curb your expectations of the Browns and there's little room left for disappointment. So that's the angle I'm playing here.

At least we won't be sporting the brown pants tonight...

The Giants are a solid football team. Solid enough to go 10-6 last year, then win three straight road games in the playoffs on their way to one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. The Browns on the other hand... who knows what to ever expect? I just don't see any way they can compete with this team. But of course I've been wrong before. I'd like to see the Browns show some pride and ride on the crowd's energy in prime time under the lights. Maybe that can happen for a while, but eventually I think the Giants will pull away. I'll go with Giants 34 Browns 13. Prove me wrong Brownies, please. Make us proud to be Clevelanders.

Other Browns Notes: K2 was finally released from the hospital yesterday and is listed as doubtful for tonight's game. Hope everything is OK with him and I don't think any Browns fan is looking forward to facing the Giants without him on the field... Terry Pluto says DA needs to show something soon, like starting tonight... Will the Dolphins' creative offense inspire the Browns? All I know is that Josh Cribbs needs the ball in his hands more for the Browns to have much of a chance... James Walker says the Browns are approaching a breaking point... And DA's problems may be explained here. But I still say he still needs to play much better than he has.

Cavs Update: 15 days and counting. The season can't start soon enough. Hopefully Wally Szczerbiak really is returning to form. I'm not sure if he will win the starting role this season, but he will play an important role for this team before the trade deadline... More about Daniel Gibson's decision to stick with the Cavs. How can you not love this guy?... Coach Brown likes the progress of the offense, but the focus still remains on the defensive end... And a nice piece from Bob Finnan on the fight for the final roster spot.
"Yeah, maybe I'd have gotten a big offer, but I had an idea of what I was going to get going in," Gibson said. "Cleveland is where I wanted to be so, I didn't consider going anywhere else."

Friday, October 10, 2008

Preseason rematch

It's no secret that the Cavaliers put the biggest scare into the Celtics on their way to their 17th NBA crown last May. I know the Hawks took them to seven games in the first round, but did anyone see Game 7? I think the Hawks lost by 100. The Cavaliers had a real shot to steal their Game 7 in Boston and probably would have done so if not for some annoying shots from 75-year-old PJ Brown, all the loose balls going the Celtics way, and a couple missed open looks from the Cavs. So yes, the Cavs' 97-92 loss still rubs me the wrong way today and I'm hoping they use it as motivation for this season.

The Cavs and Celtics meet again tonight - and for real in just 18 days

The Cavs will renew their rivalry tonight with the Celtics, albeit in a fairly meaningless preseason game. But when these teams get together, there's always some extra intensity, likely fueled by Paul Pierce's idiocy a few years back. I've made no secret here about my hatred for all things Boston. And I see them as the one roadblock to another Finals appearance for the Cavs this year. The Celtics are a year older, now without James Posey, and perhaps a little less motivated than a year ago. We've already overcome the Pistons in the playoffs and I think their mystique has worn off over the last couple years. And I don't think Orlando or Philadelphia are ready to step up and be a serious threat to us in the postseason. The opportunity is there right now for the Cavs. If they stay healthy this could truly be a season to remember...

Other Cavs Notes: Sasha Pavlovic sprained his ankle on Wednesday and did not make the trip to Providence for tonight's game. The door is now open for Wally Szczerbiak to step up and grab the starting role again. I would prefer to see it go to Delonte West, but someone has to play backup PG and I think he and Mo will ultimately be in the back court in crunch time anyway... Bob Finnan talks about the Cavs/Celtics rivalry... And from the notes in today's ABJ, Delonte West may or may not suit up tonight, depending on when he meets back up with the team. And LBJ even knows how to be political when talking about politics:
"Good luck to Brady Quinn. Hopefully he continues to work at it and maybe he can be the starting quarterback for the Browns.''
- LeBron James

Browns Update:
Probably the last thing the Browns need at this point - Kellen Winslow, Jr. (aka, one of the few players on the Browns with any heart) is now listed as questionable for Monday night's game vs. the Giants. As usual, the Browns are being very tight-lipped about his "unspecified illness," and that makes me more than a bit nervous. If the Browns have to take the field without their emotional leader on MNF, I truly think there is no way they can possibly win... And if that wasn't enough, now their fearless leader is trying to block political distractions in the locker room. Sometimes this team just makes me stop and shake my head.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Finally... a game!!!

It had been 9 days since the last time a Cleveland team played, with the Browns and Indians last suiting up on September 28th. So even though last night's preseason game at the Q didn't really matter, at least it finally gave us something to talk about. And our first look at the new-look Cavaliers. Well, at least the first listen since the game wasn't televised. And by the way, it was damn good to hear Joe Tait's voice again...

Big Ben throws one down vs. Toronto last night

I wouldn't put too much stock in the final score, with the Raptors winning 104-84. How seriously can you take a game in which LeBron played 8 minutes and chipped in one point on three shots from the floor? And keep in mind that Delonte West wasn't even in the building. Overall the starters didn't really play much at all (Mo 26 minutes, Sasha 22 minutes, Ben 20 minutes, Z 22 minutes) with the goal being to keep everyone healthy and rested for the start of the season. So mission accomplished there. Brian Windhorst has the rundown in the PD (how good does that sound?) this morning of all the good and bad from last night's game.
"We looked pretty good at it at times, at other times we looked sloppy," Mike Brown said. "We have to be selective with our tempo, we have to know how to run."

And I also liked this piece from George Thomas at the ABJ (apparently taking over for Mr. Windhorst there) on JJ Hickson's Cavalier debut:
Rookie J.J. Hickson (7 points, 4 rebounds) didn't light things up on the scoreboard, but willingly and enthusiastically played some tenacious defense. His digging one off the floor in the first half led directly to a Cavs basket, but it was in the fourth quarter that he showed what the team saw in during the summer. He stole the ball from Toronto's Will Solomon at the 10:44 mark near midcourt and dashed to the Cavs basket, sealing the deal with a thunderous two-handed dunk that got the crowd roaring.

So it's one preseason game down, seven more to go before the real season starts in just 20 days. Terry Pluto likes what he sees so far with Mo pushing the tempo... And here's an interesting tidbit about the Cavs possibly coming close to acquring Jermaine O'Neal in the offseason. All I can say is thank the sports gods that that didn't happen. He will no doubt be hurt again by January... And finally, what to make of Anderson Varejao this year? One of my favorite Cavalier 'insiders' has a good piece on RealCavsFans.

Tribe Update: We found out yesterday that Travis Hafner's shoulder may need arthroscopic surgery. That's great news considering we are on the hook for $57M over the next four years with him and he's already showing diminishing skills at the plate. Hopefully it is due to the shoulder and it gets corrected, but I'm not holding my breath right now. Paul Hoynes and Sheldon Ocker both give their summaries from Mark Shapiro's state-of-the-team address yesterday. I thought it was interesting to hear him put so much emphasis on acquiring another starter. I'll eventually jot down my thoughts on the 2009 Tribe here as soon as I stop being lazy about it.

Browns Update: I guess it's time to get back into Browns mode again. I will reluctantly play along, this time with lowered expectations. But my patience is obviously wearing thin. Tony Grossi has a scouting report today on the defending Super Bowl champs. I'm just hoping we can somehow keep this game close and not embarrass ourselves in the spotlight. At least Josh Cribbs is feeling good again.

Monday, October 6, 2008

He really likes us!

Not that you'd hear or see anything about this on the major national news outlets, but I thought it was worth posting here in case you missed it over the weekend... LeBron James actually likes us! On a Saturday stop at the Register for Change Rally in downtown Cleveland, the King offered some brief words to the crowd on hand. Of particular interest to Cavalier fans should be what he says starting around the 1:30 mark:

"Thank you Cleveland. You know I love you all. I love Ohio. And I ain't going nowhere - I'll be here." - LeBron James

Of course the doubters will say it's still two years away (although decision time begins in June 2010, just 20 months from now). It's not a sexy story outside of northeast Ohio to report that LBJ would actually want to stay here. But I live here and it's important for me to hear how the King is thinking. Nothing is iron-clad right now, but it's nice to know where his head is. And my head is about to explode in excitement with the Cavs' season starting in just 21 days. I can't wait for basketball to start again...

Other Cavs Notes: The Cavs held their annual Wine & Gold scrimmage in Akron on Saturday. No one got hurt and it sounds like they had some fun... Rookie JJ Hickson showed some flashes on defense... And Mo Williams just showed some flash all-around... And finally, I thought this was another nice story about LeBron. I don't think everyone fully realizes how lucky we are to have this guy in Cleveland, not just as an athlete, but a person too.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Just Checking In...

As I said before, I hate the bye week for the Browns, especially when it happens to coincide with the end of the MLB season. And really, it has ended for me now that the Tribe is done. I'm only watching the playoffs in passing if my team isn't a part of the fun. And that's mainly just to root against the Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, and Brewers. The Red Sox for obvious reasons. The Cubs just because it's been 100 years for them and I like to see them suffer even more than us Tribe fans (And who are we kidding here? The Bulls won six titles in 8 years and the Bears even won a Super Bowl in '85. So F Chicago). The White Sox just because they're the White Sox. I can't stand Jim Thome, Ozzie Guillen, A.J. Pierzynski, or their annoying fans. And of course the Brewers because we gave them CC in a mid-season trade. But at least he is treating the playoffs this year in similar fashion to how he did last year. His rough outing yesterday has the Brewers on the brink of elimination. I hope their fans think it's worth giving up their two best prospects for a half-season rental that got you into the playoffs (for the first time in 26 years) only to be swept in the division series. This could end up being another stroke of brilliance by Mark Shapiro, a la trading Colon for Lee and Sizemore (yes, I'm purposely leaving out Phillips).

Tribe Update:
Why are we still talking about Luis Isaac being fired??? He is (was) a bullpen coach. Enough already... A look at some former Indians in the postseason... And here's a comprehensive look at the Tribe's roster for 2009.

Cavs Update: 25 days and counting until the season tips off. I received word yesterday that Flash Seats will still work for our season tickets, we just won't be able to re-sell them via the Flash Seats website (which I never had much success selling with anyway)... Our two rookie big men seem to be making a good impression so far in camp... But Brian Windhorst says JJ Hickson is already experiencing some growing pains on defense.

We'll soon find out what Hickson can provide for the Cavs this year
"In the summertime, J.J. showed his talent level was really high. He's young, but his potential is unlimited. When you're as good an athlete at he is at that size, I think you can do a lot of things when it comes to running and jumping and getting by guys off the dribble. He can play with his back to the basket. He can step out and face up a little bit. He's a decent shooter." - Mike Brown

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

I hate bye weeks

For the Browns' sake, obviously the bye week is coming at a good time. But for Cleveland sports fans' sake it is not. The result is a slow Cleveland sports news cycle, especially with the Tribe done for the season and the Cavaliers' regular season tip-off still 27 days away. Damn it... why couldn't the Indians have turned it on just a little sooner? Watching the end of that White Sox/Twins one-game playoff last night was brutal. I don't think either of those teams is as good as the Tribe is right now. But as I've been saying my entire life, there's always next year. Or as my inner-Cavs fan is saying - there's always this year.

New Cavalier PG Mo Williams
"One team I always envisioned myself with was here. I'm fortunate in that it was a dream come true. I felt that with the way I played and the way LeBron plays, he's a great complement to what I do and I'm a complement to what he does." - Mo Williams

Cavs Update: Brian Windhorst talks of Mike Brown's new kinder, gentler training camp... The Cavs are eager to unleash their new point guard... Micheal Dickerson (remember him way back from the University of Arizona?) took a long road to Cavaliers training camp... And FSN Ohio has some great Cavalier programming the entire month of October to fill the void before the season starts.

Tribe Update: Some housecleaning was done on the coaching staff. All I ever saw Isaac do was hold a clipboard in the bullpen, but you'd think he was a god with some of the raging comments on cleveland.com. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but he's a bullpen coach people. Take a deep breath and relax... Eric Wedge gave some thoughts on the 2009 Indians, and as usual doesn't really go into a lot of detail. But I'll say it again, I think he did a great job with this team this year and I don't understand why people are constantly calling for his head... Terry Pluto goes back over his predictions for the 2008 Indians. I like that he's man enough to do that. I'll never re-hash anything I predict, unless it somehow actually comes true.