Wisconsin 35, Bowling Green 14
The weather suggested midseason Browns game. The calendar said different.
Through raindrops, under the kind of sagging gray clouds that usually roll in off Lake Erie in November, Wisconsin and Bowling Green played the first-ever Division I college football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The game went into the books as a home game for the Falcons, the second half of a home-and-home series with the Badgers begun with a 56-42 Wisconsin win in Madison a year ago.
The loyalty of the crowd suggested otherwise.
At least 40 percent of the reported 30,307 in the crowd were Wisconsin fans. A sea of Badger red spread like a rash across the center of the south stands -- designated the visiting side.
The north side, where I was among a gaggle of BG fans, was covered primarily in BG orange with rows of red mixed in. I am proud to report that BG seemed to take over the Dawg Pound, creating a nice little vortex of sound as Wisconsin drove toward the east end zone.
But all the sound in the world couldn't mask the fact that BG was playing with an inexperience offensive line and without their starting quarterback.
Anthony Turner is inexperienced enough as it is. When he was suspended for a game for alleged marijuana possession, the yoke fell onto redshirt freshman Freddie Barnes.
Inserting Barnes as the starting quarterback seemed to turn BG coach Gregg Brandon into some uber-exaggeration of Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. Brandon, normally a pretty adventuresome offensive coach, didn't just play it close to the vest with Barnes. He played it in the breast pocket.
Barnes was allowed to pass the ball 19 times, resulting in 12 completions but for just 150 yards. Most of Barnes' pass attempts were of the dink-and-dunk variety, seldom more than 10 yards downfield.
It was a far cry from the spread offense Brandon ran with former quarterback Omar Jacobs, cut by the Steelers on Saturday.
Whether by limitiations or design, the most havoc Barnes wreaked was with his legs. In what amounted to a modified option set, Barnes ran the most quarterback keepers I've ever seen in a college game. The approach did produce results, as he rushed 29 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Barnes' legs singlehandedly kept BG in the game for three quarters. BG crept to within 21-14 in the third quarter before Wisconsin scored the final two touchdowns of the game.
Aside from Brandon's ultra-conservative play calling, the real story of the game was BG's inability to stop P.J. Hill Jr. The Badgers' leading rusher punished BG's defense for 128 yards and a touchdown. Seldom were the Falcons able to bring Hill down on the first tackle attempt, usually needing a swarm to bring him down.
Few things are more demoralizing to a defense than a running back who can break two and three tackles before being brought down. Hill did just that, and it wore away at BG's defense in the second half.
The Falcons were also badly outplayed on special teams. Punter Alonso Rojas looked like he was punting a cinder block all night, clanging 30-yard shank shots off his right foot and consistently giving the Badgers great field position. Rojas was also victimized on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone for Wisconsin's second touchdown.
With the game over, Wisconsin could probably wipe their collective brow and call it a warm-up for the rest of the season. For BG, this was a preparation game for what they can expect, raised to another power, when they venture to Columbus to face Ohio State on Oct. 9.
Three years ago, I was there as BG made the Buckeyes sweat before losing 24-17. If Saturday's performance against a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team is any indication, perhaps I should just cover my eyes when the Falcons make their trip next month.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Freaky Saturday
What a day to be away from the computer. Saturday was a Cleveland sports blogger's dream. All three teams did something blog-worthy, and some college action was thrown in on the first week of the football season.
I myself went to the much-ballyhooed "Clash in Cleveland," pitting my beloved Bowling Green Falcons (Class of '03, if you didn't already know) against the Wisconsin Badgers. I'll write much more about that in a subsequent post.
While I was dodging raindrops at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the world was passing by outside. So without further delay, let's wrap up an eventful Saturday, sports page style.
Kouzmanoff hits a slam on his first major league pitch
That's right, folks. Not just his first game. Not just his first at-bat. The very first pitch Kevin Kouzmanoff saw come out of a major-league pitcher's hand -- from Texas' Edinson Volquez -- he took deep for a grand slam.
It's the first time in baseball history that has happened.
Sunday, The Plain Dealer reported that 23 big-league hitters have gone deep in their first major league at-bat. Kouzmanoff, called up from Buffalo earlier in the day, is reportedly the first American Leaguer to hit a grand slam, and just the third all-time.
The Indians won 6-5, by the way. They are now 65-69 and 18-6 in their last 24 games.
It was, to be sure, an auspicious debut for Kouzmanoff, a third base prospect who was sort of forgotten when the Indians acquired Andy Marte. But Marte, who has been lukewarm at the plate since being recalled more than a month ago, might get pushed for playing time by Kouzmanoff. A hot finish by Kouzmanoff would likely create a competition at third base next spring.
It's also possible that Kouzmanoff might learn another position. Reportedly, he's been taking fielding practice at both third base and left field recently. If first impressions mean anything, he needs to play somewhere to get his bat in the lineup.
He was the DH last night while Travis Hafner recovered from a hand bruise after getting hit by a pitch Friday.
Browns trade for center Fraley
Out is Ross Tucker, cut by the Browns Saturday. In is Fraley, a veteran center with 71 starts, including a Super Bowl, for the Eagles. The Browns acquired Fraley from Philadelphia for a conditional low-round draft pick in 2008.
Fraley missed the final eight games of the 2005 season with a torn shoulder tendon, and subsequently lost his starting job to Jamaal Jackson.
Fraley, who will turn 29 this month, is far from LeCharles Bentley, but a definite upgrade over the cast of characters the Browns have had snapping the ball since Bentley went down with a seas0n-ending knee injury. Fraley at least has the experience of being the anchor of the offensive line on a contending team. Once he gets his feet wet, he'll provide valuable leadership that even Bentley might be able to learn from.
Suggs and Green both out
We spent all training camp wondering who would win the backup running back battle, Lee Suggs or William Green? Turns out, the real winner is Jason Wright. Wright and Jerome Harrison will team as Reuben Droughns' backup. Suggs and Green have been shown the door.
Suggs was among the players cut Saturday. Green was placed on injured reserve and the Browns will likely try to negotiate an injury settlement that terminates his contract.
Among the other Browns players cut Saturday: WR Frisman Jackson, C Ross Tucker, LB Nick Speegle and OL Andrew Hoffman
Cavaliers will likely sign Wesley
You can read more about it in the post below, but the Cavs appear close to signing veteran shooting guard David Wesley to a two-year deal. It's a solid move if the Cavs can trade one or two other backup guards.
Ohio State rolls in opener
Not that anyone couldn't have seen in coming, but the Buckeyes torched Northern Illinois, scoring 21 first quarter points en route to a 35-12 season opening win. The star hookup? No surprise, Troy Smith to Ted Ginn Jr. The Glenville High School products connected on a pair of first-quarter touchdowns that provided Ohio State all the offense it needed.
Next up: a rematch with Texas. If Ohio State wants any respect, let alone a national title, they must pay the Longhorns back for last year's loss at The Shoe.
I myself went to the much-ballyhooed "Clash in Cleveland," pitting my beloved Bowling Green Falcons (Class of '03, if you didn't already know) against the Wisconsin Badgers. I'll write much more about that in a subsequent post.
While I was dodging raindrops at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the world was passing by outside. So without further delay, let's wrap up an eventful Saturday, sports page style.
Kouzmanoff hits a slam on his first major league pitch
That's right, folks. Not just his first game. Not just his first at-bat. The very first pitch Kevin Kouzmanoff saw come out of a major-league pitcher's hand -- from Texas' Edinson Volquez -- he took deep for a grand slam.
It's the first time in baseball history that has happened.
Sunday, The Plain Dealer reported that 23 big-league hitters have gone deep in their first major league at-bat. Kouzmanoff, called up from Buffalo earlier in the day, is reportedly the first American Leaguer to hit a grand slam, and just the third all-time.
The Indians won 6-5, by the way. They are now 65-69 and 18-6 in their last 24 games.
It was, to be sure, an auspicious debut for Kouzmanoff, a third base prospect who was sort of forgotten when the Indians acquired Andy Marte. But Marte, who has been lukewarm at the plate since being recalled more than a month ago, might get pushed for playing time by Kouzmanoff. A hot finish by Kouzmanoff would likely create a competition at third base next spring.
It's also possible that Kouzmanoff might learn another position. Reportedly, he's been taking fielding practice at both third base and left field recently. If first impressions mean anything, he needs to play somewhere to get his bat in the lineup.
He was the DH last night while Travis Hafner recovered from a hand bruise after getting hit by a pitch Friday.
Browns trade for center Fraley
Out is Ross Tucker, cut by the Browns Saturday. In is Fraley, a veteran center with 71 starts, including a Super Bowl, for the Eagles. The Browns acquired Fraley from Philadelphia for a conditional low-round draft pick in 2008.
Fraley missed the final eight games of the 2005 season with a torn shoulder tendon, and subsequently lost his starting job to Jamaal Jackson.
Fraley, who will turn 29 this month, is far from LeCharles Bentley, but a definite upgrade over the cast of characters the Browns have had snapping the ball since Bentley went down with a seas0n-ending knee injury. Fraley at least has the experience of being the anchor of the offensive line on a contending team. Once he gets his feet wet, he'll provide valuable leadership that even Bentley might be able to learn from.
Suggs and Green both out
We spent all training camp wondering who would win the backup running back battle, Lee Suggs or William Green? Turns out, the real winner is Jason Wright. Wright and Jerome Harrison will team as Reuben Droughns' backup. Suggs and Green have been shown the door.
Suggs was among the players cut Saturday. Green was placed on injured reserve and the Browns will likely try to negotiate an injury settlement that terminates his contract.
Among the other Browns players cut Saturday: WR Frisman Jackson, C Ross Tucker, LB Nick Speegle and OL Andrew Hoffman
Cavaliers will likely sign Wesley
You can read more about it in the post below, but the Cavs appear close to signing veteran shooting guard David Wesley to a two-year deal. It's a solid move if the Cavs can trade one or two other backup guards.
Ohio State rolls in opener
Not that anyone couldn't have seen in coming, but the Buckeyes torched Northern Illinois, scoring 21 first quarter points en route to a 35-12 season opening win. The star hookup? No surprise, Troy Smith to Ted Ginn Jr. The Glenville High School products connected on a pair of first-quarter touchdowns that provided Ohio State all the offense it needed.
Next up: a rematch with Texas. If Ohio State wants any respect, let alone a national title, they must pay the Longhorns back for last year's loss at The Shoe.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Cavs close to signing Wesley?
The Plain Dealer's Branson Wright reports Saturday morning that the Cavaliers are close to signing undersized shooting guard David Wesley to a two-year deal with the first year guaranteed.
It's Branson Wright, so take it with a large grain of salt until you see the news attached to an Associated Press report or the byline of Brian Windhorst. But it appears Wesley took a physical for the Cavs Friday, and if he is given a clean bill of health, he reportedly will sign the deal.
The name of Wesley, 35, has been attached to the Cavs all summer. He is a veteran known for hard-nosed play and perimeter shooting, two things the Cavs need.
Wesley has a career average of 12.9 points per game, and is a career 37 percent three-point shooter. Last year with the Rockets, he averaged 9.9 points and shot .365 from beyond the arc. As with the signing of Scot Pollard two weeks ago, this possible signing is more evidence that the Cavs are starting to be viewed as a contender by veteran players. Pollard has played on contenders for most of his career, and Wesley is nearing the end of his playing days, so neither would have bothered looking at the Cavs if they didn't think they'd have a chance to win a title.
If Wesley is signed, it's a sure signal that the Cavs will move one or two of their guards before the season starts. The Cavs are already overcrowded at the two-guard spot with Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, Sasha Pavlovic, Luke Jackson, Stephen Graham and Eddie Basden. Graham and Basden might be cut at the end of training camp, but the acquisition of Wesley would give the Cavs six shooting guards with guaranteed money for next season.
In terms of the payroll and roster, trading away Jones would make the most sense. He's owed three more years on a four-year, $16 million contract he signed last summer, and he is broadly the same type of player as Brown and Wesley.
But at this late date, finding a team willing to take Jones might prove difficult. An easier way out would be to pawn Pavlovic or Jackson off for draft picks. Pavlovic, entering the final year of his contract, is likely the most tradeable Cavs shooting guard.
It's Branson Wright, so take it with a large grain of salt until you see the news attached to an Associated Press report or the byline of Brian Windhorst. But it appears Wesley took a physical for the Cavs Friday, and if he is given a clean bill of health, he reportedly will sign the deal.
The name of Wesley, 35, has been attached to the Cavs all summer. He is a veteran known for hard-nosed play and perimeter shooting, two things the Cavs need.
Wesley has a career average of 12.9 points per game, and is a career 37 percent three-point shooter. Last year with the Rockets, he averaged 9.9 points and shot .365 from beyond the arc. As with the signing of Scot Pollard two weeks ago, this possible signing is more evidence that the Cavs are starting to be viewed as a contender by veteran players. Pollard has played on contenders for most of his career, and Wesley is nearing the end of his playing days, so neither would have bothered looking at the Cavs if they didn't think they'd have a chance to win a title.
If Wesley is signed, it's a sure signal that the Cavs will move one or two of their guards before the season starts. The Cavs are already overcrowded at the two-guard spot with Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, Damon Jones, Sasha Pavlovic, Luke Jackson, Stephen Graham and Eddie Basden. Graham and Basden might be cut at the end of training camp, but the acquisition of Wesley would give the Cavs six shooting guards with guaranteed money for next season.
In terms of the payroll and roster, trading away Jones would make the most sense. He's owed three more years on a four-year, $16 million contract he signed last summer, and he is broadly the same type of player as Brown and Wesley.
But at this late date, finding a team willing to take Jones might prove difficult. An easier way out would be to pawn Pavlovic or Jackson off for draft picks. Pavlovic, entering the final year of his contract, is likely the most tradeable Cavs shooting guard.
Friday, September 01, 2006
The Morning After: Chicago
Bears 20, Browns 7
Final preseason record: 2-2
Things you don't want to hear in the men's room of a football stadium with less than two minutes to play in the game and the home team coasting to a loss:
"The Browns showed nothing on offense tonight."
"I think tonight the realities of some shortcomings have set in."
"They're building, but this could still be a very long year."
The Browns play-by-play tandem of Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken were echoing the dejection that most of the 10,000 or so that stayed to the final gun were feeling following the Browns' worst performance of the exhibition season by far.
Apparently, Donovan and Dieken never attended the Tom Hamilton school of homerism. Criticism of the home team should be peppered liberally with catty comments about how dirty the visiting team's city is, or diatribes about how our stadium might be open-air and next to a lake, but their stadium is in a crack whore red-light district and five miles from the nearest parking lot.**
Have some pride, man. If you're going down, take the other team with you.
But I digress. I hadn't even planned on going to Thursday's game, but my friend Marc had an extra ticket. It was a work night, but what the hey, I figured. The Browns were on a roll. This was the final regular-season tune-up. It should be a good game.
Um ... not so much.
When the Bears returned the first Dave Zastudil punt 54 yards, I knew their hearts weren't in the game. When Chicago promptly stuck the ball in the end zone, I questioned whether their heads were in it.
The Bears were up 7-0 before you could blink, 10-0 before you could finish a beer.
Is it time to sound the alarm on Charlie Frye just yet? Probably not, but keep in mind that he hasn't looked good since leading the Browns on an opening touchdown drive against Buffalo. Thursday, he was awful. In his two drives, the Browns netted minus-1 yards of offense by my count. Both drives ended with Zastudil punts after three scrimmage plays.
Frye's throws went over, under, to the left, to the right and everywhere else where his receivers couldn't get to the ball. No one among the trio of Dennis Northcutt, Braylon Edwards or Joe Jurevicius caught a pass.
On an incompletion during the second drive, Frye whacked his throwing hand on a defender's helmet and was seen shaking it repeatedly. Perhaps at that time, coach Romeo Crennel decided it was time to get his starter out of there.
The scene shifted to Derek Anderson, who was becoming hot property after leading the offense on a game-winning drive in Buffalo on Saturday.
Anyone who thinks the Browns will be fine with Anderson as Frye's primary backup needs to lay off the pipe. Anderson looked serviceable at times, leading the Browns on a short-field two-minute drill that culminated in a short touchdown to Frisman Jackson to end the first half, but was no better than Frye in most respects.
Anderson showed a granite touch on his throws, overshooting receivers, flinging the ball wide right and left, and tossing a couple the Bears' secondary should have been ashamed not to intercept.
He bobbled a couple of snaps and had a few more passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. All in all, Anderson would be a fine project player, but there is no way on Earth I want him a Frye concussion away from active duty.
Then there is the ongoing ballad of Ken Dorsey. If Anderson looked inconsistent and Frye looked bad, Dorsey looked like be should be on the fast track to taking Maurice Clarett's roster spot with the Mahoning Valley Hitmen.
He has the athleticism of Bernie Kosar minus the accurate throwing arm. In other words, exactly what does this guy bring to the table? Smarts? Stephen Hawking has smarts, too. I don't think he'd make a very good NFL quarterback, though.
The scary part is that Hawking's motorized wheelchair might actually increase Dorsey's mobility.
Dorsey awkwardly tossed a bevy of second-half incompletions. As Marc put it, "when he throws, he looks like he's heaving a shot put."
All in all, I walked away from the game very dissatisfied with the Browns' quarterback situation. Frye, for all his favored-son backing, is still an unproven youngster with limited physical skills. Anderson and Dorsey are downright unsettling as the backup guys. Crennel didn't mince words after the game, telling reporters that "we didn't have a good quarterback tonight."
Hopefully this spurs GM Phil Savage to find a veteran QB before the season starts.
Defense, as has been the trend all preseason, had a few more positives to report. Kamerion Wimbley continued a very impressive exhibition campaign and showed more evidence that he is becoming a dominant pass rusher. Backup nose tackle Baba Oshinowo managed a second-half sack and Willie McGinest looked fine in his second game of preseason action.
On the flip side, choosing between D'Qwell Jackson and Chaun Thompson to start opposite Andra Davis at inside linebacker looks like an Anderson/Dorsey proposition. Neither impressed, and Jackson was burned several times on big gains. Until he learns not to bite on play fakes and gets acquainted with the Browns' coverage schemes, he will be a weak spot other teams will constantly attack.
If there is any silver lining to be taken out of a dud of a game, it's the competition to survive the final roster cuts. Below are some players I think helped their chances this week, and a few with waning chances.
Thumbs up
DB Andrew Pace
At a weak position looking for warm bodies, Pace came in and played hard Thursday, seeing action in all four quarters. He's smallish and his speed is mostly linear, but I loved the effort he showed, especially when the team around him didn't seem to care as much.
RB Jason Wright
He did his best Jerome Harrison impersonation, ripping off a couple of longer gains in the second quarter. There's not going to be a lot of room at the inn for another running back, but his speed could be useful on special teams.
LB Nick Speegle
The Browns can't have enough linebackers, and Speegle seems willing to do the dirty work on special teams to prove himself to the coaches.
Thumbs down
WR Kendrick Mosley
Every dropped pass is suicide for a receiver trying to make a roster, and Mosley had one Thursday. As it is, the Browns seem set at receiver. Mosley was fighting a major uphill battle against Josh Cribbs and Frisman Jackson.
FB Corey McIntyre
The Browns have Lawrence Vickers and Terelle Smith, who have both proven their worth. McIntyre could be a special teamer, but I just can't see the Browns carrying three fullbacks.
RBs William Green and Lee Suggs
One of these guys won't be here a week and a half from now. My money is on Suggs. Curiously, Suggs saw little action Thursday and Green saw no action. I'd like to see the loser of this battle traded for at least a draft pick, but it is entirely possible he might simply be cut.
**Before some Chicagoan reads that comment and gets his or her dander up, I was using a random, hyperbole-laced and purely fictitious example. I realize Soldier Field is not in a crack whore red-light district and five miles from the nearest parking lot. It's no further than three miles if it's an inch.
Up next: New Orleans, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. (season opener)
Final preseason record: 2-2
Things you don't want to hear in the men's room of a football stadium with less than two minutes to play in the game and the home team coasting to a loss:
"The Browns showed nothing on offense tonight."
"I think tonight the realities of some shortcomings have set in."
"They're building, but this could still be a very long year."
The Browns play-by-play tandem of Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken were echoing the dejection that most of the 10,000 or so that stayed to the final gun were feeling following the Browns' worst performance of the exhibition season by far.
Apparently, Donovan and Dieken never attended the Tom Hamilton school of homerism. Criticism of the home team should be peppered liberally with catty comments about how dirty the visiting team's city is, or diatribes about how our stadium might be open-air and next to a lake, but their stadium is in a crack whore red-light district and five miles from the nearest parking lot.**
Have some pride, man. If you're going down, take the other team with you.
But I digress. I hadn't even planned on going to Thursday's game, but my friend Marc had an extra ticket. It was a work night, but what the hey, I figured. The Browns were on a roll. This was the final regular-season tune-up. It should be a good game.
Um ... not so much.
When the Bears returned the first Dave Zastudil punt 54 yards, I knew their hearts weren't in the game. When Chicago promptly stuck the ball in the end zone, I questioned whether their heads were in it.
The Bears were up 7-0 before you could blink, 10-0 before you could finish a beer.
Is it time to sound the alarm on Charlie Frye just yet? Probably not, but keep in mind that he hasn't looked good since leading the Browns on an opening touchdown drive against Buffalo. Thursday, he was awful. In his two drives, the Browns netted minus-1 yards of offense by my count. Both drives ended with Zastudil punts after three scrimmage plays.
Frye's throws went over, under, to the left, to the right and everywhere else where his receivers couldn't get to the ball. No one among the trio of Dennis Northcutt, Braylon Edwards or Joe Jurevicius caught a pass.
On an incompletion during the second drive, Frye whacked his throwing hand on a defender's helmet and was seen shaking it repeatedly. Perhaps at that time, coach Romeo Crennel decided it was time to get his starter out of there.
The scene shifted to Derek Anderson, who was becoming hot property after leading the offense on a game-winning drive in Buffalo on Saturday.
Anyone who thinks the Browns will be fine with Anderson as Frye's primary backup needs to lay off the pipe. Anderson looked serviceable at times, leading the Browns on a short-field two-minute drill that culminated in a short touchdown to Frisman Jackson to end the first half, but was no better than Frye in most respects.
Anderson showed a granite touch on his throws, overshooting receivers, flinging the ball wide right and left, and tossing a couple the Bears' secondary should have been ashamed not to intercept.
He bobbled a couple of snaps and had a few more passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. All in all, Anderson would be a fine project player, but there is no way on Earth I want him a Frye concussion away from active duty.
Then there is the ongoing ballad of Ken Dorsey. If Anderson looked inconsistent and Frye looked bad, Dorsey looked like be should be on the fast track to taking Maurice Clarett's roster spot with the Mahoning Valley Hitmen.
He has the athleticism of Bernie Kosar minus the accurate throwing arm. In other words, exactly what does this guy bring to the table? Smarts? Stephen Hawking has smarts, too. I don't think he'd make a very good NFL quarterback, though.
The scary part is that Hawking's motorized wheelchair might actually increase Dorsey's mobility.
Dorsey awkwardly tossed a bevy of second-half incompletions. As Marc put it, "when he throws, he looks like he's heaving a shot put."
All in all, I walked away from the game very dissatisfied with the Browns' quarterback situation. Frye, for all his favored-son backing, is still an unproven youngster with limited physical skills. Anderson and Dorsey are downright unsettling as the backup guys. Crennel didn't mince words after the game, telling reporters that "we didn't have a good quarterback tonight."
Hopefully this spurs GM Phil Savage to find a veteran QB before the season starts.
Defense, as has been the trend all preseason, had a few more positives to report. Kamerion Wimbley continued a very impressive exhibition campaign and showed more evidence that he is becoming a dominant pass rusher. Backup nose tackle Baba Oshinowo managed a second-half sack and Willie McGinest looked fine in his second game of preseason action.
On the flip side, choosing between D'Qwell Jackson and Chaun Thompson to start opposite Andra Davis at inside linebacker looks like an Anderson/Dorsey proposition. Neither impressed, and Jackson was burned several times on big gains. Until he learns not to bite on play fakes and gets acquainted with the Browns' coverage schemes, he will be a weak spot other teams will constantly attack.
If there is any silver lining to be taken out of a dud of a game, it's the competition to survive the final roster cuts. Below are some players I think helped their chances this week, and a few with waning chances.
Thumbs up
DB Andrew Pace
At a weak position looking for warm bodies, Pace came in and played hard Thursday, seeing action in all four quarters. He's smallish and his speed is mostly linear, but I loved the effort he showed, especially when the team around him didn't seem to care as much.
RB Jason Wright
He did his best Jerome Harrison impersonation, ripping off a couple of longer gains in the second quarter. There's not going to be a lot of room at the inn for another running back, but his speed could be useful on special teams.
LB Nick Speegle
The Browns can't have enough linebackers, and Speegle seems willing to do the dirty work on special teams to prove himself to the coaches.
Thumbs down
WR Kendrick Mosley
Every dropped pass is suicide for a receiver trying to make a roster, and Mosley had one Thursday. As it is, the Browns seem set at receiver. Mosley was fighting a major uphill battle against Josh Cribbs and Frisman Jackson.
FB Corey McIntyre
The Browns have Lawrence Vickers and Terelle Smith, who have both proven their worth. McIntyre could be a special teamer, but I just can't see the Browns carrying three fullbacks.
RBs William Green and Lee Suggs
One of these guys won't be here a week and a half from now. My money is on Suggs. Curiously, Suggs saw little action Thursday and Green saw no action. I'd like to see the loser of this battle traded for at least a draft pick, but it is entirely possible he might simply be cut.
**Before some Chicagoan reads that comment and gets his or her dander up, I was using a random, hyperbole-laced and purely fictitious example. I realize Soldier Field is not in a crack whore red-light district and five miles from the nearest parking lot. It's no further than three miles if it's an inch.
Up next: New Orleans, Sept. 10, 1 p.m. (season opener)
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Status check
It's time to whip out the thermometer and take the temperature of the three Cleveland sports teams. What type of hope should you, the valued fan, be investing in the Browns, Indians or Cavaliers that they will be the team to lift the 42-years-and-counting title drought hanging over Northeast Ohio?
Below, I'll give you the good, bad and ugly aspects of Cleveland's Big Three, and how far I think they are from title contention.
Browns
Reasons to be happy
1. Romeo Crennel isn't in the habit of blowing smoke
Crennel, so far, has managed not to respond to a negative situation with relentless spin-doctoring and blatant distortions of the truth. That alone puts him miles ahead of Butch Davis in terms of creating a healthy team environment. He doesn't openly trash his players, but he is very reserved with his praise. His overall attitude toward his players seems to be "prove it to me," which is exactly the attitude the coach should have on a team that hasn't proven anything yet.
2. For the first time since the franchise's return, the front office is finally building on something
That, of course, is the defense. Crennel and GM Phil Savage both come from defensive backgrounds, the defense is where Savage spent most of the team's money this off-season, and the top two picks in this spring's draft were linebackers.
It finally looks like the infighting among Browns' higher-ups has subsided and everyone is working together instead of trying to usurp power from each other.
3. Randy Lerner is an involved owner
When Al Lerner died four years ago, I thought the Browns would be sold within six months. His son, Randy Lerner, was a jet-setter from Long Island, and I thought the last thing in the world he'd want to do is run an NFL franchise, certainly an NFL franchise as closely-scrutinized as the Browns.
But not only hasn't Lerner sold the team, he's embraced his role as the owner. He flies in for practices and games, he attends team functions, and he has gone out of his way to reach out to Browns alumni, making them an involved part of the organization again.
Lerner is involved and concerned without being meddlesome, and has become just what the doctor ordered for the Browns in the wake of his father's death. I'd go so far as to say he has become one of the best owners in the league.
Reasons to be cautious
1. Nobody really seems to have a grasp of offensive football
Nobody in the Browns organization is an offensive guru, and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon's performance has been questionable at best. The first three preseason games have shown that the Browns have some ability to move the football, but are woefully inconsistent and prone to long dry spell.
Unless this team plans on winning a lot of 13-10 games, they have to get better on offense.
2. The quarterback situation
This plays into the first point. Charlie Frye is inexperienced, and the situation behind him is threadbare to say the least. Ken Dorsey is the most experience quarterback on the roster, and he's getting outplayed by Derek Anderson, a second-year player who was bound for Baltimore's practice squad last year.
The Browns are letting their quarterback situation flap perilously in the wind right now. If Frye goes down, it could be a knockout blow for the team.
3. A losing track record
The Browns haven't made the playoffs in four years. They haven't reached double digits in wins in 12 years. They haven't won a playoff game in 12 years. Until the team starts to play better ball in the regular season, it's always wise to maintain a safe distance.
Reason to be nauseous
1. Oh, it hurts
There is the omnipresent possibility that a catastrophic injury could befall a Browns player at any moment, and that his backup could retire, and the backup to the backup could get suspended for drug violations.
This team hasn't had the best luck since returning, you know.
Indians
Reasons to be happy
1. This team can develop young talent
Nobody need worry about a dearth of young talent coming out of the Indians' farm system anytime soon. The Indians identified the farm system as their lifeblood and have set about keeping it as nourished as possible, either through the draft or trades. For a midmarket team, that's a smart move.
2. Ownership is committing money to those young players
You can fault the Larry and Paul Dolan ownership group for some things, but when it comes to young players, they are putting their money where their mouth is.
Since last year, C.C. Sabathia, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Jhonny Peralta are among the players inked to extensions. Extending young players gives them a vote of organizational confidence and prevents rounds of contentious arbitration that can strain a player's relationship with his team.
3. GM Mark Shapiro can retool on the fly
Given the requisite cash, Shapiro can tighten the screws and have the Indians ready to win next spring. He's already proven he can sift for gold nuggets like Tom Mastny and wing a midseason trade for a multitalented player lost in the shuffle of another organization like Shin-Soo Choo.
But he needs the money.
Reasons to be cautious
1. The Indians have yet to prove they can lure top free agents
Adding some impactful free agents, or doing the equivalent in a trade, are the only ways to get this team over the hump. Having a competitive initial offer is only half the battle. An organization also needs to be able to sell a player on signing, which is usually accomplished through aggressive bargaining.
So far, the Indians seem to be easily dissuaded when it comes to contract negotiations. Once their planned limit is topped, they back out and pull their offer off the table.
It's a sad fact the Indians must learn: to get top players, you will have to overpay at times.
2. At times, it seems like this team has no idea how to translate talent into winning
Talent is a must when building a winner. But a team must also consistently empower and motivate that talent. So far, I'm not seeing that out of the Indians. Manager Eric Wedge deserves some of the blame, but I think it's an organizational thing.
There is no reason why the Indians, a team with a very capable offense and starting rotation, should be as bad as they are. It's all between the ears.
3. Wedge and Shapiro are vanilla and vanilla
No smoke, no fire. Heck, not even a palpable difference of opinion. The brain monster known as Wedgiro brings the same ideas, same philosophies, same leadership style and maybe even the same hair care products to the table. That's not a good recipe when things grow stagnant, as I think they have in the Indians' front office.
Reason to be nauseous
Shapiro might be on his way out
Shapiro's contract is up at the end of next season. Right now, the chance of him signing an extension to stay with the low-budget Indians seems like a 50-50 proposition at best.
Cavaliers
Reasons to be happy
1. LeBron James is a Cav through the spring of 2010, no questions asked
He is the heart, soul, mind and body of Cleveland sports. As long as the Cavs have him, they will continue to improve.
2. Dan Gilbert has vastly improved this team on and off the court
When he bought the team, he was branded a meddlesome fantasy-league owner who was going to foul everything up a la Daniel Snyder. Instead, he has approached owning an NBA franchise with the same analytical eye that made him a fortune in the business world. He's pumped money into the roster, upgrades to Quicken Loans Arena, and a soon-to-be-constructed practice facility in Independence.
Best of all, he's hired basketball people who are confident and competent, but not arrogant, and let them run the show.
3. GM Danny Ferry has learned the most important lesson any NBA GM has to learn
In the NBA, it's about the money you don't spend. After last year's spending splurge, Ferry coaxed Drew Gooden to sign a contract that gives the team flexibility in several years and makes Gooden tradeable if need be. Instead if overpaying for Flip Murray, he drafted a rookie replacement in Shannon Brown.
Maintaining financial flexibility is paramount in the NBA, which has a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax for teams that broach the salary cap.
Reasons to be cautious
1. Larry Hughes and the injury bug
He's really important to what the Cavs are trying to build, but he can never stay healthy. Another season with Hughes riding the pine in a cast is another season of spackling a huge hole in the roster. It might not stop the Cavs' progress, but it could slow it.
2. The lack of a defensive tough guy
With Ben Wallace in Chicago, Rasheed Wallace in Detroit and Jermaine O'Neal in Indiana, the Cavs' division is full of sharp elbows in the low post. The Cavs have a couple of scrappers off the bench in Anderson Varejao and Scot Pollard, but no one who can really force the issue in the paint like the Wallaces and O'Neal can. Once you get past the swift legs of LeBron, the Cavs are a very finesse team. That's not to say they can't win being finesse, but they need an answer for the tough guys that roam the East's frontcourts.
3. Mike Brown doesn't bring the offense like he should
Having LeBron makes coaching offense much easier, but way too often, the offense devolved into LeBron and four guys standing around watching him. Brown, a defense-first coach, doesn't seem to have an antidote for that, and it makes the Cavs look very one-dimensional on offense at times.
Reason to be nauseous
Moondog
An NBA club should be able to employ the best and brightest marketing minds available. So what does it say about the Cavs that the best they could come up with is a stuffed puppy dog for a mascot?
I know mascots are supposed to be kid-friendly, but a dog? The Browns have four dogs as mascots already. At least come up with something that looks like an acid-tripped Sesame Street character, like Slider. Or a unique animal, like The Gorilla in Phoenix.
Thirty-six years of basketball, and the best mascots the Cavs have presented to the fans are Moondog and Whammer. Sad. Truly sad.
Below, I'll give you the good, bad and ugly aspects of Cleveland's Big Three, and how far I think they are from title contention.
Browns
Reasons to be happy
1. Romeo Crennel isn't in the habit of blowing smoke
Crennel, so far, has managed not to respond to a negative situation with relentless spin-doctoring and blatant distortions of the truth. That alone puts him miles ahead of Butch Davis in terms of creating a healthy team environment. He doesn't openly trash his players, but he is very reserved with his praise. His overall attitude toward his players seems to be "prove it to me," which is exactly the attitude the coach should have on a team that hasn't proven anything yet.
2. For the first time since the franchise's return, the front office is finally building on something
That, of course, is the defense. Crennel and GM Phil Savage both come from defensive backgrounds, the defense is where Savage spent most of the team's money this off-season, and the top two picks in this spring's draft were linebackers.
It finally looks like the infighting among Browns' higher-ups has subsided and everyone is working together instead of trying to usurp power from each other.
3. Randy Lerner is an involved owner
When Al Lerner died four years ago, I thought the Browns would be sold within six months. His son, Randy Lerner, was a jet-setter from Long Island, and I thought the last thing in the world he'd want to do is run an NFL franchise, certainly an NFL franchise as closely-scrutinized as the Browns.
But not only hasn't Lerner sold the team, he's embraced his role as the owner. He flies in for practices and games, he attends team functions, and he has gone out of his way to reach out to Browns alumni, making them an involved part of the organization again.
Lerner is involved and concerned without being meddlesome, and has become just what the doctor ordered for the Browns in the wake of his father's death. I'd go so far as to say he has become one of the best owners in the league.
Reasons to be cautious
1. Nobody really seems to have a grasp of offensive football
Nobody in the Browns organization is an offensive guru, and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon's performance has been questionable at best. The first three preseason games have shown that the Browns have some ability to move the football, but are woefully inconsistent and prone to long dry spell.
Unless this team plans on winning a lot of 13-10 games, they have to get better on offense.
2. The quarterback situation
This plays into the first point. Charlie Frye is inexperienced, and the situation behind him is threadbare to say the least. Ken Dorsey is the most experience quarterback on the roster, and he's getting outplayed by Derek Anderson, a second-year player who was bound for Baltimore's practice squad last year.
The Browns are letting their quarterback situation flap perilously in the wind right now. If Frye goes down, it could be a knockout blow for the team.
3. A losing track record
The Browns haven't made the playoffs in four years. They haven't reached double digits in wins in 12 years. They haven't won a playoff game in 12 years. Until the team starts to play better ball in the regular season, it's always wise to maintain a safe distance.
Reason to be nauseous
1. Oh, it hurts
There is the omnipresent possibility that a catastrophic injury could befall a Browns player at any moment, and that his backup could retire, and the backup to the backup could get suspended for drug violations.
This team hasn't had the best luck since returning, you know.
Indians
Reasons to be happy
1. This team can develop young talent
Nobody need worry about a dearth of young talent coming out of the Indians' farm system anytime soon. The Indians identified the farm system as their lifeblood and have set about keeping it as nourished as possible, either through the draft or trades. For a midmarket team, that's a smart move.
2. Ownership is committing money to those young players
You can fault the Larry and Paul Dolan ownership group for some things, but when it comes to young players, they are putting their money where their mouth is.
Since last year, C.C. Sabathia, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Jhonny Peralta are among the players inked to extensions. Extending young players gives them a vote of organizational confidence and prevents rounds of contentious arbitration that can strain a player's relationship with his team.
3. GM Mark Shapiro can retool on the fly
Given the requisite cash, Shapiro can tighten the screws and have the Indians ready to win next spring. He's already proven he can sift for gold nuggets like Tom Mastny and wing a midseason trade for a multitalented player lost in the shuffle of another organization like Shin-Soo Choo.
But he needs the money.
Reasons to be cautious
1. The Indians have yet to prove they can lure top free agents
Adding some impactful free agents, or doing the equivalent in a trade, are the only ways to get this team over the hump. Having a competitive initial offer is only half the battle. An organization also needs to be able to sell a player on signing, which is usually accomplished through aggressive bargaining.
So far, the Indians seem to be easily dissuaded when it comes to contract negotiations. Once their planned limit is topped, they back out and pull their offer off the table.
It's a sad fact the Indians must learn: to get top players, you will have to overpay at times.
2. At times, it seems like this team has no idea how to translate talent into winning
Talent is a must when building a winner. But a team must also consistently empower and motivate that talent. So far, I'm not seeing that out of the Indians. Manager Eric Wedge deserves some of the blame, but I think it's an organizational thing.
There is no reason why the Indians, a team with a very capable offense and starting rotation, should be as bad as they are. It's all between the ears.
3. Wedge and Shapiro are vanilla and vanilla
No smoke, no fire. Heck, not even a palpable difference of opinion. The brain monster known as Wedgiro brings the same ideas, same philosophies, same leadership style and maybe even the same hair care products to the table. That's not a good recipe when things grow stagnant, as I think they have in the Indians' front office.
Reason to be nauseous
Shapiro might be on his way out
Shapiro's contract is up at the end of next season. Right now, the chance of him signing an extension to stay with the low-budget Indians seems like a 50-50 proposition at best.
Cavaliers
Reasons to be happy
1. LeBron James is a Cav through the spring of 2010, no questions asked
He is the heart, soul, mind and body of Cleveland sports. As long as the Cavs have him, they will continue to improve.
2. Dan Gilbert has vastly improved this team on and off the court
When he bought the team, he was branded a meddlesome fantasy-league owner who was going to foul everything up a la Daniel Snyder. Instead, he has approached owning an NBA franchise with the same analytical eye that made him a fortune in the business world. He's pumped money into the roster, upgrades to Quicken Loans Arena, and a soon-to-be-constructed practice facility in Independence.
Best of all, he's hired basketball people who are confident and competent, but not arrogant, and let them run the show.
3. GM Danny Ferry has learned the most important lesson any NBA GM has to learn
In the NBA, it's about the money you don't spend. After last year's spending splurge, Ferry coaxed Drew Gooden to sign a contract that gives the team flexibility in several years and makes Gooden tradeable if need be. Instead if overpaying for Flip Murray, he drafted a rookie replacement in Shannon Brown.
Maintaining financial flexibility is paramount in the NBA, which has a dollar-for-dollar luxury tax for teams that broach the salary cap.
Reasons to be cautious
1. Larry Hughes and the injury bug
He's really important to what the Cavs are trying to build, but he can never stay healthy. Another season with Hughes riding the pine in a cast is another season of spackling a huge hole in the roster. It might not stop the Cavs' progress, but it could slow it.
2. The lack of a defensive tough guy
With Ben Wallace in Chicago, Rasheed Wallace in Detroit and Jermaine O'Neal in Indiana, the Cavs' division is full of sharp elbows in the low post. The Cavs have a couple of scrappers off the bench in Anderson Varejao and Scot Pollard, but no one who can really force the issue in the paint like the Wallaces and O'Neal can. Once you get past the swift legs of LeBron, the Cavs are a very finesse team. That's not to say they can't win being finesse, but they need an answer for the tough guys that roam the East's frontcourts.
3. Mike Brown doesn't bring the offense like he should
Having LeBron makes coaching offense much easier, but way too often, the offense devolved into LeBron and four guys standing around watching him. Brown, a defense-first coach, doesn't seem to have an antidote for that, and it makes the Cavs look very one-dimensional on offense at times.
Reason to be nauseous
Moondog
An NBA club should be able to employ the best and brightest marketing minds available. So what does it say about the Cavs that the best they could come up with is a stuffed puppy dog for a mascot?
I know mascots are supposed to be kid-friendly, but a dog? The Browns have four dogs as mascots already. At least come up with something that looks like an acid-tripped Sesame Street character, like Slider. Or a unique animal, like The Gorilla in Phoenix.
Thirty-six years of basketball, and the best mascots the Cavs have presented to the fans are Moondog and Whammer. Sad. Truly sad.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Land of lowered expectations
The Indians, it appears, are back in their comfort zone.
The expectations of winning are off somewhere over the horizon yet again, and guess what? They're playing better.
From a low-water mark of 48-64 on Aug. 9, the Indians have gone 13-5 in their last 18 games to improve to 61-69. Without warning, the spiceless jambalaya that was the bullpen has suddenly found some semblance of stability behind the arms of Fernando Cabrera and Tom Mastny.
Mastny has come out of nowhere to become a certifiable flame-douser at the back of the bullpen. After a nonstop string of shaky work when the season still had a heartbeat, Cabrera has suddenly sprung to life as an all-but-unhittable strikeout maestro with the season reduced to extended spring training.
With Cabrera, with the entire roster and coaching staff, the mantra from the fans is the same:
"Where was this when the games mattered?"
To me, it perpetuates the idea that the Indians are breeding a culture more concerned with computation than competition. When winning is an abstract concept, when problems can be solved with hypotheses and players can be quantified with software, this organization seems to operate at its best.
When the focus shifts from the hope of the future to the demands of the present, then there are problems.
Under the Eric Wedge-Mark Shapiro tag team, the Indians have gotten off to four consecutive slow starts. The first year, 2003, was a bottom-out year. In 2004, the Indians rebounded from their slow start to put a scare into the Twins before falling to a final record of 80-82. Last year was supposed to be the corner-turning year. After a slow start, the Indians kicked into high gear, won 93 games and came within a whisker of the playoffs.
Then came this past offseason, when the glow of the spotlight intensified and the expectation of winning shifted to "now." Shapiro, Wedge and owners Larry and Paul Dolan stared at the spotlight and were promptly blinded. The smart, tactical moves of previous offseasons were replaced by free-agent bungling and a trade of Coco Crisp that might have yielded a top prospect in Andy Marte, but destroyed the bullpen and put the 2006 season at risk in the process.
The head-scratching moves continued into spring training and the regular season. Brandon Phillips outplayed Ramon Vazquez, yet Vazquez made the final roster and Phillips was shipped off to Cincinnati for virtually nothing. Now, neither player is with the team.
It took nearly three months to deem the Jason Johnson experiment a failure, even with Jeremy Sowers more than ready at Class AAA Buffalo. Sowers has consistently impressed since being recalled, while Johnson is performing his same old loser routine with the Red Sox.
Fausto Carmona was pressed into service as a setup man and performed admirably. But then, Indians management jumped the gun big time by thrusting him into the closer's role, which he had never been asked to fill on any professional level. They went so far as to dump Bob Wickman for a Braves Class A prospect just to free up the role for Carmona.
Four blown saves later, the experiment was over, Carmona's confidence was shattered, and he was on the fast track back to Buffalo. He will finish the season as a starter.
Around the time that the Carmona experiment was breathing its last, the Indians apparently decided to stop consternating over their lost season and just start playing ball again. As the calendar has moved through August, the entire organization appears to have relaxed and re-focused on the basic goal of making the best out of a bad situation.
That's fine, considering what the season has become. But what about the factors that led to this unsalvageable year? One year, even two years, of slow starts and late collapses can be chalked up to the bumps in the rebuilding process. But three and four years? That's a trend, and it's becoming an alarming one.
For three straight years, the Indians have gotten off to a slow start and rebounded at some point during the year. In 2004 and '05, they faded at season's end. This year, what they do in September is a moot point with regard to the standings.
I'd hate to think that the Indians, populated by organizational whiz kids in key upper management positions, are great at re-stocking a farm system and giving us a cache of talented prospects to fawn over, but totally inept when it comes time to win with those prospects. But the proof, so far, is in the pudding.
On the field and off the field, whenever the Indians are expected to win, they choke in some form. Whether it's bad roster moves, fielding blunders, miscalculations or failure to spend money effectively, the Indians -- a trim, well-run organization by most standards -- turn into the bumbling, bungling Browns of the Butch Davis era when they are asked to make the moves to win now.
If it's a case of serial stage fright, the Indians' brass had better figure out how to get over it, or get some decision-makers in here who don't sweat under the spotlight.
The Indians only have so many seasons to waste before players like Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and C.C. Sabathia are free to leave.
The expectations of winning are off somewhere over the horizon yet again, and guess what? They're playing better.
From a low-water mark of 48-64 on Aug. 9, the Indians have gone 13-5 in their last 18 games to improve to 61-69. Without warning, the spiceless jambalaya that was the bullpen has suddenly found some semblance of stability behind the arms of Fernando Cabrera and Tom Mastny.
Mastny has come out of nowhere to become a certifiable flame-douser at the back of the bullpen. After a nonstop string of shaky work when the season still had a heartbeat, Cabrera has suddenly sprung to life as an all-but-unhittable strikeout maestro with the season reduced to extended spring training.
With Cabrera, with the entire roster and coaching staff, the mantra from the fans is the same:
"Where was this when the games mattered?"
To me, it perpetuates the idea that the Indians are breeding a culture more concerned with computation than competition. When winning is an abstract concept, when problems can be solved with hypotheses and players can be quantified with software, this organization seems to operate at its best.
When the focus shifts from the hope of the future to the demands of the present, then there are problems.
Under the Eric Wedge-Mark Shapiro tag team, the Indians have gotten off to four consecutive slow starts. The first year, 2003, was a bottom-out year. In 2004, the Indians rebounded from their slow start to put a scare into the Twins before falling to a final record of 80-82. Last year was supposed to be the corner-turning year. After a slow start, the Indians kicked into high gear, won 93 games and came within a whisker of the playoffs.
Then came this past offseason, when the glow of the spotlight intensified and the expectation of winning shifted to "now." Shapiro, Wedge and owners Larry and Paul Dolan stared at the spotlight and were promptly blinded. The smart, tactical moves of previous offseasons were replaced by free-agent bungling and a trade of Coco Crisp that might have yielded a top prospect in Andy Marte, but destroyed the bullpen and put the 2006 season at risk in the process.
The head-scratching moves continued into spring training and the regular season. Brandon Phillips outplayed Ramon Vazquez, yet Vazquez made the final roster and Phillips was shipped off to Cincinnati for virtually nothing. Now, neither player is with the team.
It took nearly three months to deem the Jason Johnson experiment a failure, even with Jeremy Sowers more than ready at Class AAA Buffalo. Sowers has consistently impressed since being recalled, while Johnson is performing his same old loser routine with the Red Sox.
Fausto Carmona was pressed into service as a setup man and performed admirably. But then, Indians management jumped the gun big time by thrusting him into the closer's role, which he had never been asked to fill on any professional level. They went so far as to dump Bob Wickman for a Braves Class A prospect just to free up the role for Carmona.
Four blown saves later, the experiment was over, Carmona's confidence was shattered, and he was on the fast track back to Buffalo. He will finish the season as a starter.
Around the time that the Carmona experiment was breathing its last, the Indians apparently decided to stop consternating over their lost season and just start playing ball again. As the calendar has moved through August, the entire organization appears to have relaxed and re-focused on the basic goal of making the best out of a bad situation.
That's fine, considering what the season has become. But what about the factors that led to this unsalvageable year? One year, even two years, of slow starts and late collapses can be chalked up to the bumps in the rebuilding process. But three and four years? That's a trend, and it's becoming an alarming one.
For three straight years, the Indians have gotten off to a slow start and rebounded at some point during the year. In 2004 and '05, they faded at season's end. This year, what they do in September is a moot point with regard to the standings.
I'd hate to think that the Indians, populated by organizational whiz kids in key upper management positions, are great at re-stocking a farm system and giving us a cache of talented prospects to fawn over, but totally inept when it comes time to win with those prospects. But the proof, so far, is in the pudding.
On the field and off the field, whenever the Indians are expected to win, they choke in some form. Whether it's bad roster moves, fielding blunders, miscalculations or failure to spend money effectively, the Indians -- a trim, well-run organization by most standards -- turn into the bumbling, bungling Browns of the Butch Davis era when they are asked to make the moves to win now.
If it's a case of serial stage fright, the Indians' brass had better figure out how to get over it, or get some decision-makers in here who don't sweat under the spotlight.
The Indians only have so many seasons to waste before players like Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and C.C. Sabathia are free to leave.
The Morning After: Buffalo
Browns 20, Bills 17
Preseason record: 2-1
If the third preseason game is supposed to be the dress rehearsal for the regular season, the Browns, for the most part, look ready to play. And that's saying something in of itself.
A month after LeCharles Bentley's injury cast a dark shadow over training camp, two weeks after a lackluster exhibition loss to the Eagles, the Browns have shown a resiliency that hasn't been seen from them in years. They beat Detroit on a last-second defensive stand, and have now beaten Buffalo on a last-second drive that culminated in a game-winning field goal by Jeff Chandler.
Charlie Frye looked surgically precise in a 6-for-6 opening touchdown drive. The best part was he spread the ball around, finding a different receiver on each pass. Few things keep an offense sharp like a quarterback who throws to everybody. Too often in the Browns' recent history, quarterbacks fell in love with pet targets (Tim Couch to Kevin Johnson, anyone?) and the offense often looked disjointed because of it.
Braylon Edwards made his first appearance in a game since tearing a knee ligament in December. He caught just one pass, but more importantly, his knee held up through game contact. With no other setbacks, he could be getting major playing time when the regular season opens in two weeks.
The offense can score at least some points, but consistency has to be the new focus. After the great opening drive, a long stretch of nothing ensued. Reuben Droughns netted just 17 yards on eight rushing attempts and Phil Dawson missed a 56-yard field goal. After the energetic opening drive, the offense's focus and intensity waned dramatically, and the Browns went into halftime trailing 10-7.
"We got a little lackadaisical," Edwards told The Plain Dealer. "The enthusiasm wasn't there."
If the unit as a whole seemed to withdraw after the opening drive, there were outstanding individual performances.
Jerome Harrison has all but cemented himself as the change-of-pace back alongside Droughns. His nine-carry, 70-yard effort was his third straight attention-grabbing performance of the preseason.
Steve Heiden has been lost amid the hype of Kellen Winslow's return, but he continues to be an incredibly reliable short-yardage receiver for the Browns. Frye's sixth and final pass on the opening drive was a touchdown to Heiden. With Heiden and Winslow healthy, expect coach Romeo Crennel to run a lot of two tight end formations.
The offense is where most of the big names are supposed to reside, but the Browns' season is going to live and die with the defense. And the defense brings the most cause for cautious optimism as we head toward the start of the season.
In the past two exhibition games, the Browns have surrendered 33 points. If they continue to yield 33 points every two weeks for the rest of the season, they will put themselves in a position to win a lot of games.
The Bills managed to bookend the game with first- and fourth-quarter touchdowns. Between, they mustered a lone Rian Lindell field goal.
With a beefed-up front seven and hurting secondary, the statistical breakdown was predictable. The Bills outgained the Browns overall, 349 yards to 302. The secondary surrendered 293 yards passing to Buffalo while the big guys up front clamped the Bills' rushing game, holding them to 56 yards on 22 carries.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you hold down the other team's running game, you stand a much better chance of keeping them out of the end zone.
Saturday, the pass-rush tandem of Kamerion Wimbley and Willie McGinest were as good as advertised. McGinest, in his first action of the preseason, made several tackles and looked like he still had some spring in his step.
It's very early, but it's hard not to be impressed with Wimbley, who has been the quick-striking, backfield-penetrating presence GM Phil Savage must have been envisioning when he drafted him 13th overall in April.
A sack and strip of Bills' backup quarterback Craig Nall was the highlight of Wimbley's game Saturday.
After years of badly-flawed, injured and underachieving first-round selections, Wimbley is showing signs of being the first home run the Browns have hit in the draft since returning. Time will tell.
Up next: Chicago, Thursday, 8 p.m. (preseason finale)
Preseason record: 2-1
If the third preseason game is supposed to be the dress rehearsal for the regular season, the Browns, for the most part, look ready to play. And that's saying something in of itself.
A month after LeCharles Bentley's injury cast a dark shadow over training camp, two weeks after a lackluster exhibition loss to the Eagles, the Browns have shown a resiliency that hasn't been seen from them in years. They beat Detroit on a last-second defensive stand, and have now beaten Buffalo on a last-second drive that culminated in a game-winning field goal by Jeff Chandler.
Charlie Frye looked surgically precise in a 6-for-6 opening touchdown drive. The best part was he spread the ball around, finding a different receiver on each pass. Few things keep an offense sharp like a quarterback who throws to everybody. Too often in the Browns' recent history, quarterbacks fell in love with pet targets (Tim Couch to Kevin Johnson, anyone?) and the offense often looked disjointed because of it.
Braylon Edwards made his first appearance in a game since tearing a knee ligament in December. He caught just one pass, but more importantly, his knee held up through game contact. With no other setbacks, he could be getting major playing time when the regular season opens in two weeks.
The offense can score at least some points, but consistency has to be the new focus. After the great opening drive, a long stretch of nothing ensued. Reuben Droughns netted just 17 yards on eight rushing attempts and Phil Dawson missed a 56-yard field goal. After the energetic opening drive, the offense's focus and intensity waned dramatically, and the Browns went into halftime trailing 10-7.
"We got a little lackadaisical," Edwards told The Plain Dealer. "The enthusiasm wasn't there."
If the unit as a whole seemed to withdraw after the opening drive, there were outstanding individual performances.
Jerome Harrison has all but cemented himself as the change-of-pace back alongside Droughns. His nine-carry, 70-yard effort was his third straight attention-grabbing performance of the preseason.
Steve Heiden has been lost amid the hype of Kellen Winslow's return, but he continues to be an incredibly reliable short-yardage receiver for the Browns. Frye's sixth and final pass on the opening drive was a touchdown to Heiden. With Heiden and Winslow healthy, expect coach Romeo Crennel to run a lot of two tight end formations.
The offense is where most of the big names are supposed to reside, but the Browns' season is going to live and die with the defense. And the defense brings the most cause for cautious optimism as we head toward the start of the season.
In the past two exhibition games, the Browns have surrendered 33 points. If they continue to yield 33 points every two weeks for the rest of the season, they will put themselves in a position to win a lot of games.
The Bills managed to bookend the game with first- and fourth-quarter touchdowns. Between, they mustered a lone Rian Lindell field goal.
With a beefed-up front seven and hurting secondary, the statistical breakdown was predictable. The Bills outgained the Browns overall, 349 yards to 302. The secondary surrendered 293 yards passing to Buffalo while the big guys up front clamped the Bills' rushing game, holding them to 56 yards on 22 carries.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you hold down the other team's running game, you stand a much better chance of keeping them out of the end zone.
Saturday, the pass-rush tandem of Kamerion Wimbley and Willie McGinest were as good as advertised. McGinest, in his first action of the preseason, made several tackles and looked like he still had some spring in his step.
It's very early, but it's hard not to be impressed with Wimbley, who has been the quick-striking, backfield-penetrating presence GM Phil Savage must have been envisioning when he drafted him 13th overall in April.
A sack and strip of Bills' backup quarterback Craig Nall was the highlight of Wimbley's game Saturday.
After years of badly-flawed, injured and underachieving first-round selections, Wimbley is showing signs of being the first home run the Browns have hit in the draft since returning. Time will tell.
Up next: Chicago, Thursday, 8 p.m. (preseason finale)
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The Master List: August '06
In March, I introduced The Master List, a compilation of the 20 most valuable athletes in Cleveland sports. I said at the time I would like to update the list several times a year as conditions change. With some months having passed, I offer my first update of the list.
The criteria is listed below.
What does the player mean to his organization?
Is this the type of player the team thinks they can build around? Does he help them win games? Does he increase the legitimacy of the organization? How much would losing this player hurt his team?
What does the player mean to the fans and city?
How much does having this player boost Cleveland's collective morale? Is he a fan favorite?
What is the player's marketability?
Does the player get the name of himself, his team and the city out in the regional or national spotlight? More importantly, does he do it in a positive way (call this the Albert Belle rule).
Previous ranking listed in parenthesis.
1) LeBron James, Cavaliers (1)
Does this really need further explanation? He is the Cavs. Heck, he is Cleveland sports.
2) Grady Sizemore, Indians (2)
Still hot at the top of the order. Still hot to women. Although I haven't seen many "Mrs. Sizemore" shirts for sale this summer. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.
In a nutshell, Sizemore is the closest thing to a five-tool talent the Indians have. He could hit anywhere in the lineup and be productive, and is already one of the elite centerfielders in baseball.
His play and his looks make him a marketer's dream.
3) Travis Hafner, Indians (3)
Among the weapons in his arsenal: a cool, monosyllabic nickname -- "Pronk," and one of the best all-around bats in baseball. Able to clout 400-foot homers, he also has the bat control to serve singles to the opposite field.
In 2006, Pronk appears headed for his third straight .300 season, with the added bonus of 45-to-50 homers. He should be an MVP candidate. Instead, he's never played in an all-star game.
4) Reuben Droughns, Browns (5)
With an unproven quarterback, wounded offensive line and wide receiver corps on the mend, Droughns is the meal ticket for the Browns offense. As he goes, so probably will go the Browns' ability to score points.
His marketability gets docked points for repeated legal troubles, but he is still a bruising power runner who persevered to get to where he is. That always appeals to Cleveland's blue-collar sensibilities.
5) Ted Washington, Browns (13)
The large jump comes as Washington has proven he still has some gas left in the tank. Not just a token free agent signing to provide younger linemen with a mentor, he will be the one charged with stopping the opponent's running game at the line of scrimmage. For a Browns team that has been purely incapable of stopping the run since re-entering the league, Washington is a presence desperately needed, even at the age of 38.
6) Victor Martinez, Indians (7)
Say what you will about his arm, but he is the closest thing Hafner has to protection in the batting order. Catcher, first base, no matter where he plays, he will be one of best bats in baseball at that position.
7) Charlie Frye, Browns (NR)
How times have changed. In March, Frye was not even guaranteed a starting job. In August, not only is he the starter, he is the starter-or-bust. Frye himself isn't proven. Frye's backups are even less-proven. The bottom line is the Browns need Frye to morph into a solid NFL veteran on Sept. 10, when the season opens. If he can't answer the bell and succeed, the Browns are in an ocean of trouble.
8) Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers (4)
Even after a lackluster postseason, even after sitting on the bench down the stretch of most late-season games, a 7'-3" center is still a valuable weapon in an NBA team's arsenal. Say what you will about his plodding style and pet moves, and yes, he's probably being overpaid, but as the old basketball saying goes, "you can't teach height." And you certainly can't teach the combination of height and moves Z has.
9) LeCharles Bentley, Browns (9)
This from my March post:
"Having a weak offensive line sets up a domino effect: line can't protect, quarterback gets rushed, gets hit, makes bad throws, confidence is shattered, and the next thing you know, you have Tim Couch. Bentley's arrival automatically increases the chance that Charlie Frye will be able to consistently succeed. Bentley won't get a lot of face time once the season starts, but the foundation of the Browns' offensive line just went from play sand to granite."
I'll let you go throw up now.
10) Larry Hughes, Cavaliers (8)
With a healthy Hughes developing chemistry with LeBron, the Cavs could challenge the franchise record of 57 wins this season. With Hughes on the shelf, it's hole-plugging time again.
This past season showed that the Cavs can still win without Hughes, but it's much more difficult.
11) Phil Dawson, Browns (11)
Having a good kicker is like having a consistent bullpen. You take them for granted. Having a bad kicker is like having a flammable bullpen. You get indigestion watching them. Dawson, for the vast majority of his career, has been a good kicker.
Again, I go to the plunger analogy: you don't need a good kicker until you need him. But when you need him, you really need him.
12) C.C. Sabathia, Indians (17)
At the outset of the season, I branded Cliff Lee the true ace of the Indians' pitching staff. So much for predictions. Sabathia has reclaimed his often-abdicated spot as the best starter in the Indians rotation, while Lee has struggled.
Consistency continues to be a problem for Sabathia, but no one can complain about his ability to pitch well even as the bullpen continues to blow leads.
13) Drew Gooden, Cavaliers (19)
Another big jump for a guy who proved his worth last season. Gooden swallowed his pride, took a backseat in the offensive schemes and became a good enough rebounder that the Cavs wanted him back this summer. If Gooden had left, that would have been an enormous hole for the Cavs to fill in the frontcourt.
14) Kamerion Wimbley, Browns (NR)
When the Browns selected Wimbley out of Florida State in April, I was skeptical of drafting a 4-3 defensive end and turning him into a 3-4 outside linebacker. Granted, Wimbley still has a lot of proving to do, but he is showing signs of becoming the first legitimate pass rusher the Browns have had since returning to the league.
15) Leigh Bodden, Browns (NR)
With the rest of the Browns' cornerbacks dragging various injured body parts around, Bodden has excelled in a pair of preseason games. The increased player time might cement Bodden as the Browns' premier cover corner. He certainly has the athleticism to do it. It might not be long before Bodden is drawing important assignments like Chad Johnson and Hines Ward.
16) Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers (NR)
He's still far more hustle than skill, but was there a more important piece to the Cavs' playoff puzzle this past spring outside of LeBron? At his disruptive best, Varejao clogs passing lanes, draws charges and grabs rebounds. Coach Mike Brown trusted him enough to put him on the floor in the fourth quarter of most playoff games, and he played a big role in piloting the Cavs to the second round.
Did I mention the hair? If the Cavs' marketers are smart, they'd be promoting Varejao's look every chance they get.
17) Braylon Edwards, Browns (16)
Edwards might play yet in the preseason. He thinks he's ready, and he'd better be sure of it. The last thing the Browns need it Edwards to re-injure his knee. He is extremely important to the future of the receiving corps. If the Browns are to break through and become a contender, Edwards will have to be a key piece of it. He has the talent to be one of the best offensive playmakers in the NFL.
18) Willie McGinest, Browns (6)
This spring's ranking was based mostly on what he brings as a leader. This ranking takes into account more of what he can do on the field. He is still valuable as a mentor for Wimbley and the young linebackers, and I think he can still give the Browns good play in stretches, but his inability to suit up and play so far has me wondering whether McGinest is viewing this Browns gig as a a part-time, pre-retirement job. Ted Washington is four years McGinest's senior, about 100 pounds heavier, and he has had no problem going through the rigors of camp.
19) Shin-Soo Choo, Indians (NR)
Barely on the Tribe's roster for a month, Choo is already proving his worth in a big way. His bat tends to run hot and cold, but he can get it through the strike zone quickly and make contact.
The biggest impact Choo has made so far is with his glove. He has excellent range in the outfield, the athleticism to dive for balls, and a rocket arm. He might end up being the Tribe's best defensive outfielder in quite some time.
Choo, a Korean, is also the first Asian regular on the Tribe's roster. If he excels, he could provide a tremendous chance for the Indians to connect with Cleveland's Asian communities.
20) Shannon Brown, Cavaliers (NR)
Several media outlets proclaimed the Cavs' 25th overall selection of Brown "a steal." He's an undersized two-guard who came out of college a year early, but he could end up being the team's best bench guard because of his all-around game. Skill-wise, he is a definite upgrade from the departed Flip Murray. If he can shoot the way scouts say he can, he'll be a tremendous addition.
Off the list: Cliff Lee, Bob Wickman, Jhonny Peralta, Ronnie Belliard, Flip Murray, Eric Snow
Knocking on the door: Joe Jurevicius, Kellen Winslow Jr., Jeremy Sowers, Jake Westbrook, Donyell Marshall
The criteria is listed below.
What does the player mean to his organization?
Is this the type of player the team thinks they can build around? Does he help them win games? Does he increase the legitimacy of the organization? How much would losing this player hurt his team?
What does the player mean to the fans and city?
How much does having this player boost Cleveland's collective morale? Is he a fan favorite?
What is the player's marketability?
Does the player get the name of himself, his team and the city out in the regional or national spotlight? More importantly, does he do it in a positive way (call this the Albert Belle rule).
Previous ranking listed in parenthesis.
1) LeBron James, Cavaliers (1)
Does this really need further explanation? He is the Cavs. Heck, he is Cleveland sports.
2) Grady Sizemore, Indians (2)
Still hot at the top of the order. Still hot to women. Although I haven't seen many "Mrs. Sizemore" shirts for sale this summer. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.
In a nutshell, Sizemore is the closest thing to a five-tool talent the Indians have. He could hit anywhere in the lineup and be productive, and is already one of the elite centerfielders in baseball.
His play and his looks make him a marketer's dream.
3) Travis Hafner, Indians (3)
Among the weapons in his arsenal: a cool, monosyllabic nickname -- "Pronk," and one of the best all-around bats in baseball. Able to clout 400-foot homers, he also has the bat control to serve singles to the opposite field.
In 2006, Pronk appears headed for his third straight .300 season, with the added bonus of 45-to-50 homers. He should be an MVP candidate. Instead, he's never played in an all-star game.
4) Reuben Droughns, Browns (5)
With an unproven quarterback, wounded offensive line and wide receiver corps on the mend, Droughns is the meal ticket for the Browns offense. As he goes, so probably will go the Browns' ability to score points.
His marketability gets docked points for repeated legal troubles, but he is still a bruising power runner who persevered to get to where he is. That always appeals to Cleveland's blue-collar sensibilities.
5) Ted Washington, Browns (13)
The large jump comes as Washington has proven he still has some gas left in the tank. Not just a token free agent signing to provide younger linemen with a mentor, he will be the one charged with stopping the opponent's running game at the line of scrimmage. For a Browns team that has been purely incapable of stopping the run since re-entering the league, Washington is a presence desperately needed, even at the age of 38.
6) Victor Martinez, Indians (7)
Say what you will about his arm, but he is the closest thing Hafner has to protection in the batting order. Catcher, first base, no matter where he plays, he will be one of best bats in baseball at that position.
7) Charlie Frye, Browns (NR)
How times have changed. In March, Frye was not even guaranteed a starting job. In August, not only is he the starter, he is the starter-or-bust. Frye himself isn't proven. Frye's backups are even less-proven. The bottom line is the Browns need Frye to morph into a solid NFL veteran on Sept. 10, when the season opens. If he can't answer the bell and succeed, the Browns are in an ocean of trouble.
8) Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers (4)
Even after a lackluster postseason, even after sitting on the bench down the stretch of most late-season games, a 7'-3" center is still a valuable weapon in an NBA team's arsenal. Say what you will about his plodding style and pet moves, and yes, he's probably being overpaid, but as the old basketball saying goes, "you can't teach height." And you certainly can't teach the combination of height and moves Z has.
9) LeCharles Bentley, Browns (9)
This from my March post:
"Having a weak offensive line sets up a domino effect: line can't protect, quarterback gets rushed, gets hit, makes bad throws, confidence is shattered, and the next thing you know, you have Tim Couch. Bentley's arrival automatically increases the chance that Charlie Frye will be able to consistently succeed. Bentley won't get a lot of face time once the season starts, but the foundation of the Browns' offensive line just went from play sand to granite."
I'll let you go throw up now.
10) Larry Hughes, Cavaliers (8)
With a healthy Hughes developing chemistry with LeBron, the Cavs could challenge the franchise record of 57 wins this season. With Hughes on the shelf, it's hole-plugging time again.
This past season showed that the Cavs can still win without Hughes, but it's much more difficult.
11) Phil Dawson, Browns (11)
Having a good kicker is like having a consistent bullpen. You take them for granted. Having a bad kicker is like having a flammable bullpen. You get indigestion watching them. Dawson, for the vast majority of his career, has been a good kicker.
Again, I go to the plunger analogy: you don't need a good kicker until you need him. But when you need him, you really need him.
12) C.C. Sabathia, Indians (17)
At the outset of the season, I branded Cliff Lee the true ace of the Indians' pitching staff. So much for predictions. Sabathia has reclaimed his often-abdicated spot as the best starter in the Indians rotation, while Lee has struggled.
Consistency continues to be a problem for Sabathia, but no one can complain about his ability to pitch well even as the bullpen continues to blow leads.
13) Drew Gooden, Cavaliers (19)
Another big jump for a guy who proved his worth last season. Gooden swallowed his pride, took a backseat in the offensive schemes and became a good enough rebounder that the Cavs wanted him back this summer. If Gooden had left, that would have been an enormous hole for the Cavs to fill in the frontcourt.
14) Kamerion Wimbley, Browns (NR)
When the Browns selected Wimbley out of Florida State in April, I was skeptical of drafting a 4-3 defensive end and turning him into a 3-4 outside linebacker. Granted, Wimbley still has a lot of proving to do, but he is showing signs of becoming the first legitimate pass rusher the Browns have had since returning to the league.
15) Leigh Bodden, Browns (NR)
With the rest of the Browns' cornerbacks dragging various injured body parts around, Bodden has excelled in a pair of preseason games. The increased player time might cement Bodden as the Browns' premier cover corner. He certainly has the athleticism to do it. It might not be long before Bodden is drawing important assignments like Chad Johnson and Hines Ward.
16) Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers (NR)
He's still far more hustle than skill, but was there a more important piece to the Cavs' playoff puzzle this past spring outside of LeBron? At his disruptive best, Varejao clogs passing lanes, draws charges and grabs rebounds. Coach Mike Brown trusted him enough to put him on the floor in the fourth quarter of most playoff games, and he played a big role in piloting the Cavs to the second round.
Did I mention the hair? If the Cavs' marketers are smart, they'd be promoting Varejao's look every chance they get.
17) Braylon Edwards, Browns (16)
Edwards might play yet in the preseason. He thinks he's ready, and he'd better be sure of it. The last thing the Browns need it Edwards to re-injure his knee. He is extremely important to the future of the receiving corps. If the Browns are to break through and become a contender, Edwards will have to be a key piece of it. He has the talent to be one of the best offensive playmakers in the NFL.
18) Willie McGinest, Browns (6)
This spring's ranking was based mostly on what he brings as a leader. This ranking takes into account more of what he can do on the field. He is still valuable as a mentor for Wimbley and the young linebackers, and I think he can still give the Browns good play in stretches, but his inability to suit up and play so far has me wondering whether McGinest is viewing this Browns gig as a a part-time, pre-retirement job. Ted Washington is four years McGinest's senior, about 100 pounds heavier, and he has had no problem going through the rigors of camp.
19) Shin-Soo Choo, Indians (NR)
Barely on the Tribe's roster for a month, Choo is already proving his worth in a big way. His bat tends to run hot and cold, but he can get it through the strike zone quickly and make contact.
The biggest impact Choo has made so far is with his glove. He has excellent range in the outfield, the athleticism to dive for balls, and a rocket arm. He might end up being the Tribe's best defensive outfielder in quite some time.
Choo, a Korean, is also the first Asian regular on the Tribe's roster. If he excels, he could provide a tremendous chance for the Indians to connect with Cleveland's Asian communities.
20) Shannon Brown, Cavaliers (NR)
Several media outlets proclaimed the Cavs' 25th overall selection of Brown "a steal." He's an undersized two-guard who came out of college a year early, but he could end up being the team's best bench guard because of his all-around game. Skill-wise, he is a definite upgrade from the departed Flip Murray. If he can shoot the way scouts say he can, he'll be a tremendous addition.
Off the list: Cliff Lee, Bob Wickman, Jhonny Peralta, Ronnie Belliard, Flip Murray, Eric Snow
Knocking on the door: Joe Jurevicius, Kellen Winslow Jr., Jeremy Sowers, Jake Westbrook, Donyell Marshall
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
God is a Cleveland fan (no, really)
If God isn't a Cleveland fan, how do you explain this statue of Jesus, a picture of which arrives here courtesy of Deadspin.com? The accompanying Deadspin caption mentions Notre Dame, but they actually had a pretty good season last year.No, this depiction of Jesus shows Him with his hand covering His face, in a obvious gesture of Cleveland shock and disbelief.
The statue is a very powerful symbol of Cleveland's despair as a sports town, but it lacks a name. That's where we come in.
In an attempt to give the statue a name that reflects the power of its imagery, I have come up with a few candidates:
1. "Jesus watches the Indians at any point between 1959 and 1993."
2. "Jesus watches as Bill Cowher holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy"
3. "Jesus after listening in on an Art Modell conversation with Baltimore officials: October, 1995"
4. "...The Cleveland Browns take Mike Junkin ..."
5. "Curveballs in the dirt: October, 1997"
6. "Jesus realizes He gave Michael Jordan too much talent"
7. "Jesus as He realizes the freak snow storm He sent to stall The Drive missed Cleveland and hit Buffalo."
8. "Jesus concentrates as he attempts to dechiper a Bill Belichick press conference."
9. "Dangit, LeBron, you're GONNA sign that extension!"
10. "Jesus watches LeCharles Bentley get carted off the field."
11. "Jesus watches Bob Hallen retire."
12. "Jesus watches Alonzo Ephraim get suspended for doping."
13. "Jesus realizes that, at some point in the future, David Modell could be an NFL owner again."
14. "Jesus realizes that, at some point in the future, Butch Davis could be an NFL head coach again."
15. "Jesus listens as Larry Dolan purchases the Indians."
16. "Jesus listens as Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge agree that Casey Blake would make a good right fielder."
17. "... the Cleveland Cavaliers take DeSagana Diop ..."
18. "Jesus watches C.C. Sabathia order a Double Whopper value meal during the offseason."
19. "Jesus realizes that 'Major League: Back to the Minors' is not about the Indians."
20. "Jesus is asked to critique the acting in 'The Kid From Cleveland.'"
Rumble in Toronto
Other people have to be thinking the same thing I'm thinking about Blue Jays manager John Gibbons: fight one player, it's an isolated incident. Fight two players, it might be time for some anger management training.
Less than two months after challenging now-San Francisco Giant Shea Hillenbrand to duke it out, Gibbons reportedly did indeed duke it out with pitcher Ted Lilly after removing him from last night's game against Oakland.
The pair very obviously had words when Gibbons lifted Lilly from the game after an eight-run lead had all but melted away. Lilly went into the clubhouse tunnel, Gibbons shortly followed, and an few seconds later, every single person in the Toronto dugout jammed their heads into the tunnel entrance like high-school freshmen fogging up the classroom windows as the captain of the football team is about to take his frustration out on the president of the audio-visual club.
Gibbons reportedly bloodied his nose in the ensuing fisticuffs. Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Lilly didn't slam his pitching hand against anything hard, like Gibbons' skull.
Gibbons quasi-apologized for the incident in a radio interview Tuesday, saying he is a "passionate" individual.
Just like Mike Tyson. He's pretty passionate too. Just ask Robin Givens.
When Gibbons and Hillenbrand had their little who-can-piss-who-off-more contest earlier this season, we could chalk it up to a bad match of player and manager. But that sequence might have given us a peek into Gibbons' personality, and might have served as an early warning sign that he might be something of a loose cannon with his emotions.
Instead of trying to quell the situation with Hillenbrand, Gibbons made it escalate to the point that Hillenbrand wrote an anti-team message on a clubhouse bulletin board, which caused Gibbons to challenge him to a fight, and ultimately caused Gibbons to go to Toronto team management with a "he-goes-or-I-go" ultimatum.
Normally, such an ultimatum would be reserved for the most atrocious of offenses. If Hillenbrand was caught, say, dealing drugs out of the Blue Jays' locker room, I could see such a reaction. But for professionalism to go out the window because unchecked bickering led to a loss of tempers, that is not a great reflection on the stabilizing influence of the manager.
The mound confrontation with Lilly is another indicator of how the Toronto players might view their manager. Should Lilly have shown up his manager by arguing with him on the mound? Of course not. Is it another sign of Gibbons agitating a player until he finally loses it? Quite possibly.
The more I see of John Gibbons, the more I get the feeling that this is what Bob Knight would be like as the coach of an NBA team.
There will always be coaches who get under the collective skin of their players. That's part of a coach's job. A coach is supposed to be a leader, not an appeaser. Some of the greatest coaches of all time were abrasive and temperamental. Bill Parcells, Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant and John McGraw would never be in line for a Mr. Congeniality award. But they unified their teams, provided great leadership and produced positive results.
That's a giant step ahead of Gibbons, who appears more and more to be a petty agitator who likes to pick fights with players if they cross him. Gibbons, it is probably needless to say, has produced unimpressive results as the Blue Jays' manager.
When a coach can't rise above the day-to-day things that make him angry and concentrate on the bigger picture of forming a winning team, it might simply be that he is ill-suited to be in his role.
If Gibbons' players can continue to tolerate the anger-induced sideshows that are now becoming a monthly occurrence, Blue Jays management might not be able to. Gibbons might want to keep that in mind the next time he wants to deck one of his players into next week.
Less than two months after challenging now-San Francisco Giant Shea Hillenbrand to duke it out, Gibbons reportedly did indeed duke it out with pitcher Ted Lilly after removing him from last night's game against Oakland.
The pair very obviously had words when Gibbons lifted Lilly from the game after an eight-run lead had all but melted away. Lilly went into the clubhouse tunnel, Gibbons shortly followed, and an few seconds later, every single person in the Toronto dugout jammed their heads into the tunnel entrance like high-school freshmen fogging up the classroom windows as the captain of the football team is about to take his frustration out on the president of the audio-visual club.
Gibbons reportedly bloodied his nose in the ensuing fisticuffs. Fortunately for the Blue Jays, Lilly didn't slam his pitching hand against anything hard, like Gibbons' skull.
Gibbons quasi-apologized for the incident in a radio interview Tuesday, saying he is a "passionate" individual.
Just like Mike Tyson. He's pretty passionate too. Just ask Robin Givens.
When Gibbons and Hillenbrand had their little who-can-piss-who-off-more contest earlier this season, we could chalk it up to a bad match of player and manager. But that sequence might have given us a peek into Gibbons' personality, and might have served as an early warning sign that he might be something of a loose cannon with his emotions.
Instead of trying to quell the situation with Hillenbrand, Gibbons made it escalate to the point that Hillenbrand wrote an anti-team message on a clubhouse bulletin board, which caused Gibbons to challenge him to a fight, and ultimately caused Gibbons to go to Toronto team management with a "he-goes-or-I-go" ultimatum.
Normally, such an ultimatum would be reserved for the most atrocious of offenses. If Hillenbrand was caught, say, dealing drugs out of the Blue Jays' locker room, I could see such a reaction. But for professionalism to go out the window because unchecked bickering led to a loss of tempers, that is not a great reflection on the stabilizing influence of the manager.
The mound confrontation with Lilly is another indicator of how the Toronto players might view their manager. Should Lilly have shown up his manager by arguing with him on the mound? Of course not. Is it another sign of Gibbons agitating a player until he finally loses it? Quite possibly.
The more I see of John Gibbons, the more I get the feeling that this is what Bob Knight would be like as the coach of an NBA team.
There will always be coaches who get under the collective skin of their players. That's part of a coach's job. A coach is supposed to be a leader, not an appeaser. Some of the greatest coaches of all time were abrasive and temperamental. Bill Parcells, Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant and John McGraw would never be in line for a Mr. Congeniality award. But they unified their teams, provided great leadership and produced positive results.
That's a giant step ahead of Gibbons, who appears more and more to be a petty agitator who likes to pick fights with players if they cross him. Gibbons, it is probably needless to say, has produced unimpressive results as the Blue Jays' manager.
When a coach can't rise above the day-to-day things that make him angry and concentrate on the bigger picture of forming a winning team, it might simply be that he is ill-suited to be in his role.
If Gibbons' players can continue to tolerate the anger-induced sideshows that are now becoming a monthly occurrence, Blue Jays management might not be able to. Gibbons might want to keep that in mind the next time he wants to deck one of his players into next week.
Monday, August 21, 2006
The Morning After: Detroit
(Side note: I know this is actually three mornings after. I wasn't the one who decided to play the game on a Friday night, though.)
Browns 20, Lions 16
Preseason record: 1-1
Jerome Harrison sure looks like hot property after scoring his second touchdown of the preseason Friday night.
I'll admit, he looked good. So far, the rookie running back has shown an ability to cut on a dime and accelerate downfield. He has a set of hands worthy of catching passes, but unlike former Browns speedster Eric Metcalf, he isn't afraid to run the ball out of the backfield, either.
Every year, Cleveland fans always seem to find a Browns player in which to invest hope and hype. It happens every preseason. Last year, Charlie Frye was the "next big thing." Josh Cribbs was a close second.
This year, Harrison has the fans' drool-o-meter going crazy.
Most of the time, those hopes fall flat and we're left criticizing the guy mercilessly. Think William Green.
That's why I'm not sold on Harrison. As with the entire Browns roster, let him prove his worth before falling in love with him.
If he has a monster rookie season, I'll be more inclined to place stock in him. But let's see how he's doing in October and November. In my mind, he's an undersized rookie rusher who just put up a good second half against the Eagles scrubs 10 days ago, then followed it with a good game against the terminally-bad Detroit Lions.
You want my love? Do it against the Steelers. Do it against the Ravens. Do it in the playoffs. Then we'll talk.
Lost in the focus on Harrison was a nice performance by Reuben Droughns (44 yards on seven carries). Droughns is the real-deal rusher the Browns have needed since coming back into the league. The only question is, for how long? He has a pre-trial appearance in a Colorado court today on his domestic violence charge. The Plain Dealer reported today that the court is unlikely to push the trial until after the season. That could mean Droughns might have to miss a game to attend his trial later this year.
If Droughns is convicted, he could face jail time. Even more worrisome is the possibility of an NFL suspension should he be convicted.
Combine his legal problems with the fact that he has a very punishing running style and never seems to avoid contact, and I find myself not getting too attached to Droughns. At age 28, he strikes me as the kind of guy who could be washed up at 31, sooner if he suffers a major leg or neck injury.
Every time he touches the ball, I say to myself, "Man, if they can keep him healthy and out of jail, they might have a pretty good player on their hands."
Charlie Frye rebounded from an awful-looking wounded-duck interception in the first quarter to lead a touchdown drive. The interception by Dre Bly showed all of Frye shortcomings at one time: his inexperience, which led him to try and force the ball to Dennis Northcutt through a forest of blue Lions jerseys; his smallish hands, which might have led the ball to slip out of his grip awkwarly, causing the wobbly pass; and his lack of arm strength, which allowed Bly easy pickings.
Frye's ensuing touchdown drive showcased all his strengths: his huddle presence, his intelligence, his ability to read defenses and react, and his sideline-to-sideline mobility.
All in all, a positive showing from Frye. With any young quarterback, you are going to have to take the bad with the good. One of Frye's best characteristics is that he learns from his mistakes. I don't think you'll see him air-mailing passes into triple coverage again.
On defense, it was time for the youngsters to shine. Once again lacking Willie McGinest, Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon, the kids had to step up. And many did.
Rookie Kamerion Wimbley used his performance against the Eagles to garner his first start against Detroit. He capitalized on it, netting a sack. In the second half, Baba Oshinowo matched Wimbley's sack.
D'Qwell Jackson was burned on a first-quarter touchdown pass, but rebounded with some nice special teams play.
And let's not forget Leigh Bodden, who had another standout game when the Browns' cornerback corps needed it most. They're still going to need a second capable cornerback, because once you get past Baxter, McCutcheon and Bodden, the talent level drops drastically. A trade might still be in the future if GM Phil Savage can find what he is looking for.
Up next: at Buffalo, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Browns 20, Lions 16
Preseason record: 1-1
Jerome Harrison sure looks like hot property after scoring his second touchdown of the preseason Friday night.
I'll admit, he looked good. So far, the rookie running back has shown an ability to cut on a dime and accelerate downfield. He has a set of hands worthy of catching passes, but unlike former Browns speedster Eric Metcalf, he isn't afraid to run the ball out of the backfield, either.
Every year, Cleveland fans always seem to find a Browns player in which to invest hope and hype. It happens every preseason. Last year, Charlie Frye was the "next big thing." Josh Cribbs was a close second.
This year, Harrison has the fans' drool-o-meter going crazy.
Most of the time, those hopes fall flat and we're left criticizing the guy mercilessly. Think William Green.
That's why I'm not sold on Harrison. As with the entire Browns roster, let him prove his worth before falling in love with him.
If he has a monster rookie season, I'll be more inclined to place stock in him. But let's see how he's doing in October and November. In my mind, he's an undersized rookie rusher who just put up a good second half against the Eagles scrubs 10 days ago, then followed it with a good game against the terminally-bad Detroit Lions.
You want my love? Do it against the Steelers. Do it against the Ravens. Do it in the playoffs. Then we'll talk.
Lost in the focus on Harrison was a nice performance by Reuben Droughns (44 yards on seven carries). Droughns is the real-deal rusher the Browns have needed since coming back into the league. The only question is, for how long? He has a pre-trial appearance in a Colorado court today on his domestic violence charge. The Plain Dealer reported today that the court is unlikely to push the trial until after the season. That could mean Droughns might have to miss a game to attend his trial later this year.
If Droughns is convicted, he could face jail time. Even more worrisome is the possibility of an NFL suspension should he be convicted.
Combine his legal problems with the fact that he has a very punishing running style and never seems to avoid contact, and I find myself not getting too attached to Droughns. At age 28, he strikes me as the kind of guy who could be washed up at 31, sooner if he suffers a major leg or neck injury.
Every time he touches the ball, I say to myself, "Man, if they can keep him healthy and out of jail, they might have a pretty good player on their hands."
Charlie Frye rebounded from an awful-looking wounded-duck interception in the first quarter to lead a touchdown drive. The interception by Dre Bly showed all of Frye shortcomings at one time: his inexperience, which led him to try and force the ball to Dennis Northcutt through a forest of blue Lions jerseys; his smallish hands, which might have led the ball to slip out of his grip awkwarly, causing the wobbly pass; and his lack of arm strength, which allowed Bly easy pickings.
Frye's ensuing touchdown drive showcased all his strengths: his huddle presence, his intelligence, his ability to read defenses and react, and his sideline-to-sideline mobility.
All in all, a positive showing from Frye. With any young quarterback, you are going to have to take the bad with the good. One of Frye's best characteristics is that he learns from his mistakes. I don't think you'll see him air-mailing passes into triple coverage again.
On defense, it was time for the youngsters to shine. Once again lacking Willie McGinest, Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon, the kids had to step up. And many did.
Rookie Kamerion Wimbley used his performance against the Eagles to garner his first start against Detroit. He capitalized on it, netting a sack. In the second half, Baba Oshinowo matched Wimbley's sack.
D'Qwell Jackson was burned on a first-quarter touchdown pass, but rebounded with some nice special teams play.
And let's not forget Leigh Bodden, who had another standout game when the Browns' cornerback corps needed it most. They're still going to need a second capable cornerback, because once you get past Baxter, McCutcheon and Bodden, the talent level drops drastically. A trade might still be in the future if GM Phil Savage can find what he is looking for.
Up next: at Buffalo, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Some spice in the soup
Scot Pollard is a career role player who will never be confused with an offensive force. But I'm still very happy that the Cavaliers have reportedly inked the veteran forward to a one-year deal today.Why? two reasons: the Cavs just got a lot tougher, and they just got a lot more interesting.
Pollard, 6'-11" and 31 years old, is a textbook banger. He gets the most out of his limited skill set by not being afraid to mix it up in the paint. He's like a more mature, not as quick and slightly bigger version of Anderson Varejao.
Another big plus: he's played on contenders virtually his whole career. He started out his career having cups of coffee with the Pistons and Hawks, but latched on and really made a name for himself with the Kings, where he bolstered the backcourt behind Vlade Divac and Chris Webber. He was traded to the Pacers in 2002, where he filled the same role behind Jermaine O'Neal and Jeff Foster.
Now he brings his extensive playoff experience to the Cavs, who really need some more players with his kind of resume.
Aside from that, Pollard is one of the game's great flakes. And I mean that as a compliment.
Throughout his career, he's sported a wide assortment of hairdos: ponytails, a mohawk, mutton chop sideburns, and an assortment of facial hair styles that surpasses even Indians manager Eric Wedge.
Pollard has been known to paint his nails before games as well.
With Pollard the Cavs are going to be certain to lead the NBA in at least two things: high jersey numbers (Gooden's No. 90 and Pollard's No. 62), and wild hairstyles (Pollard and Varejao can share hairstyling tips).
Suddenly, the Cavs aren't just LeBron and a bunch of plain yogurt. Now, the rest of the roster is getting spiced up as well. As the Cavs continue to improve and make May and June basketball a yearly trend around these parts, people around the country are going to be turned on to the wild-child team from the Rock and Roll City.
If you're going to leave an impression, dammit, leave an impression.
A sneaky move by Junior Seau
Anybody who was getting misty-eyed about Junior Seau's retirement, hold on. If you were preparing a highlight montage set to the piano solo from "Layla," turn off the tape machine.Seau might be un-retiring. The team for which he might be giving up his newfound free time? The New England Patriots.
He might have been planning this all along. Seau wants to secure a place in Canton, and he knows that in order to be considered truly great in the history books, you need to un-retire at least once (Roger Clemens, Deion Sanders). Twice is preferred (Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson). Retiring once, just walking away from the game with your legacy intact is so .... final. It's almost like quitting. Where's the ego-driven denial of your eroding playing skills?
I'm looking at you, John Elway. How dare you walk away from football after winning back-to-back Super Bowls? How dare you deprive us Cleveland fans of a sloppy, disjointed end to your playing days, one that could have seen you be the quarterback/GM/concessions manager of the Arizona Cardinals?
Seau, on the other hand, might have just plotted the perfect crime. He has only played in one Super Bowl, a forgettable drubbing at the hand of the 49ers 12 years ago. He slogged through plenty of losing seasons with the Chargers and Dolphins, and now he wants to piggy-back to a Super Bowl title. The Patriots, with Super Bowl pedigree and a thinning linebacker corps, are a logical choice.
So Seau announces his retirement, gives us a fiery "I'm not retiring, I'm graduating" speech, has a lavish retirement party thrown by the Chargers, waits a few days for the heat to blow over, then leaves a phone message with the team alerting them that he might sign with the Patriots.
Graduating. Yeah, right. Graduating to a better team is more like it.
It's remarkable that more players don't take this tack if they are dissatisfied with their team. There are no real negative consequences for the player, outside of maybe giving back some signing bonus money. You simply announce your retirement, negotiate an end to your contract, give the team back some bonus money with the promise that the rest is coming back later, once your kids' private school tuitions are paid, wait a short amount of time, then show up on the doorstep of the team you really want to play for.
If the Patriots go in the tank this year, Seau can retire from them, shed some tears at another news conference, and resurface a week later with the Steelers. If the Steelers don't give him enough playing time, he can tell the media that "my wife wants me to retire, and she is the most important thing in my life," wait a week, and sign with the Colts.
The only limit to the retire/un-retire tactic is when you've played for every single team in the league. But Seau hasn't conquered Canada yet. Or NFL Europe. Heck, he's rich enough that maybe he can start his own league and play for every team in that league.
Will he get branded a carpetbagger? An aging, parasitic barnacle who has latched onto a team trying to win a title, taking a roster spot away from a young player who could use a chance? Hardly. He's a successful professional athlete. No matter where he goes, he'll have multiple sets of lips fused to his buttcheeks.
Spread the gospel of the un-retirement, Junior. MJ, Magic and The Rocket blazed the trail, proving once again that pro athletes write the rule book. They can shuffle the papers just about any which way they please and get away with it.
Up next: faking your own death to get out of a contract. ("Hey! What's Walter Payton doing playing for the Buccaneers?")
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Montepaschi Leavenworth
Former University of Maryland forward Lonnie Baxter apparently decided to celebrate his new one-year deal with Italian club Montepaschi Siena.And like any true marginally-talented former NBA player who wants to drink from the cup of excess while he is able, Baxter decided to go gonzo with his celebration.
I'm not talking Mardi Gras. I'm not talking Times Square on New Year's Eve. I'm not even talking Salt Lake City at the annual "Monotonous Choral Music" festival.
I'm talking guns, fast cars and the White House.
Sound like a movie starring Wesley Snipes and Dennis Miller? You're not far off.
Baxter, 27, was reportedly toodling around Washington D.C. in a white SUV with a friend, 35-year-old Irvin Martin, around 2:30 Wednesday morning. They were about two blocks away from the White House when one of them allegedly fired shots from a handgun.
At whom? No one knows. But you know how it is when you discharge a firearm within earshot of the White House. Those crazy Secret Service agents want in on the party, too.
Uniformed Secret Service agents reportedly converged on the SUV in Northwest D.C. and ... well, you can imagine how Secret Service agents admonish someone for firing a gun near the White House. It usually involves being wrestled to the ground and having zip-ties placed around your wrists.
The Secret Service reportedly found spent shell casings in plain sight within the vehicle.
Baxter's most recent team, the Charlotte Bobcats, predictably went to great lengths to let the media know that Baxter is absolutely, positively no longer a member of their team. Baxter's Italian club might not have a choice but to release him if he is sent off to the federal pen.
Arrevederci, Lonnie.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Emasculated by Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons has spoken, and if you are a Cleveland sports fan, you should start crying like a little Barry Bonds girl. Because that is what you are.In his column breaking down the playoff chances of American League teams, Simmons says Cleveland fans are "like women."
"If they ask you how they look, just tell them, 'You look fine, you look great' or else you're in for 20 minutes of pure hell," he says.
Simmons is right to a point. But there is a big difference. When a woman bites the head off her significant other for criticizing her, it's usually because the woman opened the door, and the man buffoonishly walked right into "Do These Jeans Make My Butt Look Big"-land, which invariably leads to a no-good-way-out situation, where even silence is certain death.
When Cleveland teams suck, we don't go around asking Boston, New York and Pittsburgh fans "does our team suck?" We know when our teams suck. We have a very acute sense of suck. We are well-versed in suck and recognize suck when we see it.
Virtually all the criticism Cleveland fans receive about their teams is unsolicited. Which makes us far different from the woman who asks if her Spandex workout shorts accentuate her thighs too much.
Simmons says he's sick of the volumes of whiny e-mails he gets every time he writes something negative about a Cleveland team. Personally, I think Simmons got off on the wrong foot with his "LeBron is out of Cleveland the first chance he gets" prediction. That's like telling a parent "Your child is going to run away the first chance he gets." That hit just a little too close to the heart.
This is getting ridiculous
Let's face facts: the Browns simply aren't going to have a center for the Sept. 10 opener against New Orleans.
Something will happen to every single guy who snaps the ball to the quarterback. By Sept. 10, the Browns are going to have to resort to flag football tactics and have Charlie Frye hold the ball out in front of him and yell "hike!"
Alonzo Ephraim is reportedly the latest Browns center who won't be active for the start of the regular season. If you smelled a fish when you saw Ephraim available for the taking in late July, your nose wasn't deceiving you.
Ephraim has reportedly violated the NFL's substance abuse policy for the second time and will be suspended for the first four games of the season, The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday.
Ephraim will get a chance to appeal the suspension. He will reportedly still be active for the remainder of the preseason.
However, despite the fact that Ephraim had a solid game in last Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles, the Browns apparently aren't about to give increased playing time to a guy who won't be active for the first month of the season. Ross Tucker, acquired less than a week ago from the Patriots, will reportedly start Friday night against the Lions.
Once again, we have to brace ourselves for fumbled snaps and miscommunication, and hope that it all turns out as well as it did against Philadelphia.
Tucker follows LeCharles Bentley, Bob Hallen and Ephraim onto the hot seat. Let's see how fate turns against him. Will he get injured? Will he get caught doing/trafficking drugs? Will he get arrested for a DUI? Will he pull a Ross Verba combo platter?
Tucker shares a first name with Verba, and a last name with another Browns offensive lineman who can never stay healthy. That's two strikes right there. Our phantom curse is cracking its knuckles, cackling wildly. So many ways to ruin Tucker's season, so little time.
Something will happen to every single guy who snaps the ball to the quarterback. By Sept. 10, the Browns are going to have to resort to flag football tactics and have Charlie Frye hold the ball out in front of him and yell "hike!"
Alonzo Ephraim is reportedly the latest Browns center who won't be active for the start of the regular season. If you smelled a fish when you saw Ephraim available for the taking in late July, your nose wasn't deceiving you.
Ephraim has reportedly violated the NFL's substance abuse policy for the second time and will be suspended for the first four games of the season, The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday.
Ephraim will get a chance to appeal the suspension. He will reportedly still be active for the remainder of the preseason.
However, despite the fact that Ephraim had a solid game in last Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles, the Browns apparently aren't about to give increased playing time to a guy who won't be active for the first month of the season. Ross Tucker, acquired less than a week ago from the Patriots, will reportedly start Friday night against the Lions.
Once again, we have to brace ourselves for fumbled snaps and miscommunication, and hope that it all turns out as well as it did against Philadelphia.
Tucker follows LeCharles Bentley, Bob Hallen and Ephraim onto the hot seat. Let's see how fate turns against him. Will he get injured? Will he get caught doing/trafficking drugs? Will he get arrested for a DUI? Will he pull a Ross Verba combo platter?
Tucker shares a first name with Verba, and a last name with another Browns offensive lineman who can never stay healthy. That's two strikes right there. Our phantom curse is cracking its knuckles, cackling wildly. So many ways to ruin Tucker's season, so little time.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Suggs trade rescinded
Welcome back, Lee Suggs. Boy, that sure was quick.
The trade that sent Suggs to New York for cornerback Derrick Strait was rescinded Tuesday, about 24 hours after it was announced.
The reason? Brace yourself for this one -- Suggs failed his Jets physical.
In true Browns fashion, this is darn close to the worst case scenario. The only thing that could make it worse is if Suggs hits the practice field in Berea tomorrow and blows out a knee. So we can all wait and see if that will happen.
The perpetually banged-up Suggs has never been totally healthy, and apparently the Jets saw some unsettling things amid the layers of scar tissue that are likely building up in his joints.
Suggs' physical must have really freaked out the Jets, who are facing a future without Curtis Martin and no viable backup. This is like a penniless vagrant passing up a night at a Motel 6 to continue sleeping in a box. Something must really be wrong at the motel for that to happen.
You wouldn't know it to watch Suggs play the first truly consistent, injury-free football of his career so far in training camp. But Suggs is always going to be a ticking injury time bomb. And now there might be no way out for the Browns.
The cat's out of the bag. Suggs already spooked one team at a physical. What are the odds another team is going to bite? Twenty-four hours ago, Suggs was the possible ticket to Eagles center Hank Fraley. Now he has a scarlet letter on his chest.
The Browns might as well play Suggs until he ruptures, breaks or sprains something, then hand the third-down back's role to Jerome Harrison, which is what they wanted to do all along.
Meanwhile, without Strait, the secondary continues to be perilously thin. And, as has been the ongoing theme for the Browns since camp started, GM Phil Savage must go back to the drawing board.
The trade that sent Suggs to New York for cornerback Derrick Strait was rescinded Tuesday, about 24 hours after it was announced.
The reason? Brace yourself for this one -- Suggs failed his Jets physical.
In true Browns fashion, this is darn close to the worst case scenario. The only thing that could make it worse is if Suggs hits the practice field in Berea tomorrow and blows out a knee. So we can all wait and see if that will happen.
The perpetually banged-up Suggs has never been totally healthy, and apparently the Jets saw some unsettling things amid the layers of scar tissue that are likely building up in his joints.
Suggs' physical must have really freaked out the Jets, who are facing a future without Curtis Martin and no viable backup. This is like a penniless vagrant passing up a night at a Motel 6 to continue sleeping in a box. Something must really be wrong at the motel for that to happen.
You wouldn't know it to watch Suggs play the first truly consistent, injury-free football of his career so far in training camp. But Suggs is always going to be a ticking injury time bomb. And now there might be no way out for the Browns.
The cat's out of the bag. Suggs already spooked one team at a physical. What are the odds another team is going to bite? Twenty-four hours ago, Suggs was the possible ticket to Eagles center Hank Fraley. Now he has a scarlet letter on his chest.
The Browns might as well play Suggs until he ruptures, breaks or sprains something, then hand the third-down back's role to Jerome Harrison, which is what they wanted to do all along.
Meanwhile, without Strait, the secondary continues to be perilously thin. And, as has been the ongoing theme for the Browns since camp started, GM Phil Savage must go back to the drawing board.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Two teams, two moves
Monday brought us a pair of moves that characterize two Cleveland teams at the opposite ends of the "got their shit together" spectrum.
In the morning, the Cavaliers formally announced they had reached an agreement with Drew Gooden on a three-year, $23 million contract. In the afternoon, the Browns announced that they had pawned oft-injured running back Lee Suggs off on the Jets for cornerback Derrick Strait, a career backup to this point.
So much for Suggs being the trump card that could land them Hank Fraley or another center with starting experience.
The Cavs re-signed a valuable piece of their starting lineup for far less than he originally wanted, preserving long-term financial flexibility while ensuring that the team doesn't take a step backward in the short term.
In a nutshell, Cavs GM Danny Ferry played the waiting game perfectly. While us fans got impatient and wondered if Ferry was asleep at the switch, in reality he knew he didn't have to do anything. He knew the market wasn't going to hold the six-year, $60 million contract Gooden was seeking after Nene received that head-smacking amount from the Nuggets.
Ferry knew that he simply had to let enough time pass, let training camp creep ever closer, and sooner or later, Gooden would get antsy enough to make a move. The result is a very club-friendly contract that allows the Cavs to stay remarkably flexible for a team that is going to be bumping into the salary cap every year into the foreseeable future.
For a player who is supremely talented yet maddeningly inconsistent, Ferry piloted negotiations to a conclusion fitting Gooden's resume. He gets paid handsomely in the near future, but will have to work to prove he is worthy of the big bucks and big years he was seeking this summer.
Gooden may be jealous of the money Nene received. But in three years, when the Cavs are limber enough to talk turkey with LeBron James about a long-term deal, and the Nuggets are collapsing under the weight of Nene's deal and stressing their relationship with Carmelo Anthony, the Cavs will be the envy of the Nuggets.
The Browns, meanwhile, are struggling to rub two sticks together so they can cook a rabbit for dinner.
Suggs could have been the piece that landed Fraley or another center who could at least serve as a plausible stopgap for this season. Instead, cornerbacks Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon might be out for months with injuries, plunging the cornerback position into an even deeper abyss than center. The Browns were a Leigh Bodden groin strain away from possibly needing Josh Cribbs or Frisman Jackson to play both ways. So enter the Suggs-for-Strait deal.
This deal is a direct descendent of the Ray Mickens deal a year ago, also with the Jets. Same position, same team, same hole-plugging reason for the same two injured players.
This time, however, the cost is far more. The cost might be a reliable center.
No matter how often Suggs was injured, he always seemed to be able to sell his potential. You could argue that it was in the Browns' best interest to deal Suggs before he could get hurt again, but for the first time since being drafted, Suggs was having a productive, injury-free training camp. While all that was looking up, all Mr. Potential could net the Browns was a backup corner?
I can't help but wonder if the Browns just used their biggest piece of trade ammo to bomb a landfill. This has "Brandon Phillips to the Reds" written all over it.
It's not all the fault of GM Phil Savage. Unlike Ferry in the Gooden negotiations, Savage wasn't dealing from a position of strength. Injuries have kicked the Browns in the teeth, and Savage is obligated to shore up the team where injuries have left the roster dangerously thin.
But it's still not pretty to watch a half-desperate team throw trades around to save the dam before it breaks. Unfortunately for the Browns, the dam always seems to have fatal fissures running through it.
Due in large part to a pair of tremendous gifts left by the previous management regime -- LeBron and $28 million in cap space last summer -- Ferry has been able to be an architect, constructing what appears to be a team built to win over the long haul. Due in large part to creepy injuries and a load of garbage left behind by the previous management regime, Savage has to be something far more basic: a maintenance man.
In the morning, the Cavaliers formally announced they had reached an agreement with Drew Gooden on a three-year, $23 million contract. In the afternoon, the Browns announced that they had pawned oft-injured running back Lee Suggs off on the Jets for cornerback Derrick Strait, a career backup to this point.
So much for Suggs being the trump card that could land them Hank Fraley or another center with starting experience.
The Cavs re-signed a valuable piece of their starting lineup for far less than he originally wanted, preserving long-term financial flexibility while ensuring that the team doesn't take a step backward in the short term.
In a nutshell, Cavs GM Danny Ferry played the waiting game perfectly. While us fans got impatient and wondered if Ferry was asleep at the switch, in reality he knew he didn't have to do anything. He knew the market wasn't going to hold the six-year, $60 million contract Gooden was seeking after Nene received that head-smacking amount from the Nuggets.
Ferry knew that he simply had to let enough time pass, let training camp creep ever closer, and sooner or later, Gooden would get antsy enough to make a move. The result is a very club-friendly contract that allows the Cavs to stay remarkably flexible for a team that is going to be bumping into the salary cap every year into the foreseeable future.
For a player who is supremely talented yet maddeningly inconsistent, Ferry piloted negotiations to a conclusion fitting Gooden's resume. He gets paid handsomely in the near future, but will have to work to prove he is worthy of the big bucks and big years he was seeking this summer.
Gooden may be jealous of the money Nene received. But in three years, when the Cavs are limber enough to talk turkey with LeBron James about a long-term deal, and the Nuggets are collapsing under the weight of Nene's deal and stressing their relationship with Carmelo Anthony, the Cavs will be the envy of the Nuggets.
The Browns, meanwhile, are struggling to rub two sticks together so they can cook a rabbit for dinner.
Suggs could have been the piece that landed Fraley or another center who could at least serve as a plausible stopgap for this season. Instead, cornerbacks Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon might be out for months with injuries, plunging the cornerback position into an even deeper abyss than center. The Browns were a Leigh Bodden groin strain away from possibly needing Josh Cribbs or Frisman Jackson to play both ways. So enter the Suggs-for-Strait deal.
This deal is a direct descendent of the Ray Mickens deal a year ago, also with the Jets. Same position, same team, same hole-plugging reason for the same two injured players.
This time, however, the cost is far more. The cost might be a reliable center.
No matter how often Suggs was injured, he always seemed to be able to sell his potential. You could argue that it was in the Browns' best interest to deal Suggs before he could get hurt again, but for the first time since being drafted, Suggs was having a productive, injury-free training camp. While all that was looking up, all Mr. Potential could net the Browns was a backup corner?
I can't help but wonder if the Browns just used their biggest piece of trade ammo to bomb a landfill. This has "Brandon Phillips to the Reds" written all over it.
It's not all the fault of GM Phil Savage. Unlike Ferry in the Gooden negotiations, Savage wasn't dealing from a position of strength. Injuries have kicked the Browns in the teeth, and Savage is obligated to shore up the team where injuries have left the roster dangerously thin.
But it's still not pretty to watch a half-desperate team throw trades around to save the dam before it breaks. Unfortunately for the Browns, the dam always seems to have fatal fissures running through it.
Due in large part to a pair of tremendous gifts left by the previous management regime -- LeBron and $28 million in cap space last summer -- Ferry has been able to be an architect, constructing what appears to be a team built to win over the long haul. Due in large part to creepy injuries and a load of garbage left behind by the previous management regime, Savage has to be something far more basic: a maintenance man.
Hey Tribe: Prove it to us
Lost amid all the good feelings surrounding the Tribe's six-game winning streak, 11-run first inning and Travis Hafner's record-tying sixth grand slam of the year was a blurb in Saturday's Plain Dealer.
The Indians, it said, are interested in Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel, who will be a free-agent this winter.
Dotel is a closer who has saved more than 70 games in his career, but he's been on the shelf all season recovering from Tommy John surgery. It already being mid-August, the likelihood of Dotel pitching this year is slim.
The Indians were interested in Dotel last winter as the kind of player they could sign dirt cheap, rehab, then take advantage of a rebound season. They took the same tack with Bob Howry and Scott Sauerbeck, and to a lesser extent, Aaron Boone.
Then the Yankees swooped in and (surprise!) offered Dotel more money to sit on their disabled list, so off he went to New York for this year.
When news of the Tribe's interest in Dotel hits the newspapers two and a half months before he can become a free agent, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence as to what kind of offseason they are planning.
This offseason, the Indians desperately need to spend some real money to keep pace in a division where three other teams have become major players. GM Mark Shapiro has himself said this offseason will not be a cheap fix.
Then again, last season, he also said the Indians were going to make a competitive offer to Kevin Millwood, an offer that never materialized.
In the end, it's not the words of the general manager that mean anything. It's the actions from the owner's box. How much money is Larry Dolan going to give his baseball people to work with this winter? Will he finally open up his pocketbook and spend some noticeable cash to add the one or two pieces that could really vault this team back into contention? Or is he going to continue to try and fool himself and everybody else into thinking that the clearance rack holds all the answers if you're just willing to look long enough?
The Tribe's interest in Dotel is an early warning sign that Dolan is still going to rely heavily, maybe exclusively, on one-year deals and minor-league contracts to build a team around the Indians' much-celebrated core.
If this coming offseason proves to be no different than the previous offseasons, my frustration might reach a boiling point. I cut the Dolans a lot of slack during the rebuilding process because I believed they were doing the right thing. While thousands of other fans screamed bloody murder over the departures of Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel, I believed that keeping an aging roster of overpaid veterans together was a sure recipe for failure in the long term.
I admired the Bartolo Colon trade even when fans scratched their heads, wondering why an ownership group that was supposed to pride itself on pitching would deal off the staff ace. I knew amassing top prospects was the only way to expedite the rebuilding process. I knew that the Indians had a pool of veteran players they could use as trade currency to amass those prospects.
While most other fans gnashed their teeth over the present, I was looking to the future.
Now, this is the future. Last year's 93 wins changed everything, and it's time for the Indians' brass to catch up.
Money must be spent. Dolan has to be willing to either venture into the upper rungs of the free agent market, or make a major splash in a trade. The sand is going to run out of the hourglass in two or three years, and if we have to watch Hafner, C.C. Sabathia and Victor Martinez depart as free agents at the end of this decade without ever having won with them, that is an unforgivable baseball sin.
With the pride of having put together a solid core of young players also comes the responsibility of doing what it takes to win with those players. It all goes back to the strong leadership this team has been lacking all year. The players play the game, but they play with a lot more confidence if they know they have a management group on the same page, willing to take the steps to back up a winner.
In Sunday's Plain Dealer, Roger Brown does what Roger Brown usually does: rip a local team to provoke hate mail from fans.
But, while I think his verdict that the Indians rebuilding project is a "failure" is overstated, I think the column serves a purpose by calling the Tribe's leaders onto the carpet.
As Brown wrote, the Indians do seem to be in more of a comfort zone when results are not expected right now. Dolan, Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge seem to be better when the pressure is off and they can speak in the abstract concepts of "next year."
But very quickly, next year becomes the year after that and the year after that. How long are we going to admire the future before it's expected to become the here-and-now?
The tone of Brown's column is the tone I am quickly adopting: "Hey Dolan, Shapiro and Wedge. You want us to believe you can win? Prove it. Because right now, you aren't winning."
The Indians, it said, are interested in Yankees pitcher Octavio Dotel, who will be a free-agent this winter.
Dotel is a closer who has saved more than 70 games in his career, but he's been on the shelf all season recovering from Tommy John surgery. It already being mid-August, the likelihood of Dotel pitching this year is slim.
The Indians were interested in Dotel last winter as the kind of player they could sign dirt cheap, rehab, then take advantage of a rebound season. They took the same tack with Bob Howry and Scott Sauerbeck, and to a lesser extent, Aaron Boone.
Then the Yankees swooped in and (surprise!) offered Dotel more money to sit on their disabled list, so off he went to New York for this year.
When news of the Tribe's interest in Dotel hits the newspapers two and a half months before he can become a free agent, it doesn't give me a lot of confidence as to what kind of offseason they are planning.
This offseason, the Indians desperately need to spend some real money to keep pace in a division where three other teams have become major players. GM Mark Shapiro has himself said this offseason will not be a cheap fix.
Then again, last season, he also said the Indians were going to make a competitive offer to Kevin Millwood, an offer that never materialized.
In the end, it's not the words of the general manager that mean anything. It's the actions from the owner's box. How much money is Larry Dolan going to give his baseball people to work with this winter? Will he finally open up his pocketbook and spend some noticeable cash to add the one or two pieces that could really vault this team back into contention? Or is he going to continue to try and fool himself and everybody else into thinking that the clearance rack holds all the answers if you're just willing to look long enough?
The Tribe's interest in Dotel is an early warning sign that Dolan is still going to rely heavily, maybe exclusively, on one-year deals and minor-league contracts to build a team around the Indians' much-celebrated core.
If this coming offseason proves to be no different than the previous offseasons, my frustration might reach a boiling point. I cut the Dolans a lot of slack during the rebuilding process because I believed they were doing the right thing. While thousands of other fans screamed bloody murder over the departures of Roberto Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel, I believed that keeping an aging roster of overpaid veterans together was a sure recipe for failure in the long term.
I admired the Bartolo Colon trade even when fans scratched their heads, wondering why an ownership group that was supposed to pride itself on pitching would deal off the staff ace. I knew amassing top prospects was the only way to expedite the rebuilding process. I knew that the Indians had a pool of veteran players they could use as trade currency to amass those prospects.
While most other fans gnashed their teeth over the present, I was looking to the future.
Now, this is the future. Last year's 93 wins changed everything, and it's time for the Indians' brass to catch up.
Money must be spent. Dolan has to be willing to either venture into the upper rungs of the free agent market, or make a major splash in a trade. The sand is going to run out of the hourglass in two or three years, and if we have to watch Hafner, C.C. Sabathia and Victor Martinez depart as free agents at the end of this decade without ever having won with them, that is an unforgivable baseball sin.
With the pride of having put together a solid core of young players also comes the responsibility of doing what it takes to win with those players. It all goes back to the strong leadership this team has been lacking all year. The players play the game, but they play with a lot more confidence if they know they have a management group on the same page, willing to take the steps to back up a winner.
In Sunday's Plain Dealer, Roger Brown does what Roger Brown usually does: rip a local team to provoke hate mail from fans.
But, while I think his verdict that the Indians rebuilding project is a "failure" is overstated, I think the column serves a purpose by calling the Tribe's leaders onto the carpet.
As Brown wrote, the Indians do seem to be in more of a comfort zone when results are not expected right now. Dolan, Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge seem to be better when the pressure is off and they can speak in the abstract concepts of "next year."
But very quickly, next year becomes the year after that and the year after that. How long are we going to admire the future before it's expected to become the here-and-now?
The tone of Brown's column is the tone I am quickly adopting: "Hey Dolan, Shapiro and Wedge. You want us to believe you can win? Prove it. Because right now, you aren't winning."
Gooden deal near?
A report Sunday night on Channel 19 says the Cavaliers and Drew Gooden are close to agreeing on a deal.
Take it for what it's worth. Channel 19 disclosed no details if they had any, and remember that this is the channel that has made impulsive and irresponsible journalism a hallmark of every newscast.
I won't totally believe the story until it's corroborated by a reputable source like the Associated Press or the Akron Beacon Journal's Brian Windhorst. But if it is true, it's big news for the Cavs.
We've all be waiting for the Cavs to take a significant step forward this summer, certainly as it appears the Bulls have taken a major step forward by signing Ben Wallace and the Bucks and Pistons have at least managed to tread water.
But even more important is ensuring that the Cavs don't take a step backward. Re-signing Gooden would do just that.
And honestly, knowing that the Cavs won 50 games last season, and knowing that LeBron James has improved by leaps and bounds every season, there are far worse things the Cavs can do besides stand pat.
The Cavs went in to the offseason with three main objectives: sign LeBron to an extension, figure out what to do with Gooden, and upgrade the point guard position.
A re-signing of Gooden would put two of those goals in the bag. As far as a better point guard, that's going to be kind of difficult to accomplish in a trade or free agency. The point guard free agent class was thin this summer, and the bulky contracts of Eric Snow and Damon Jones are proving to be immovable objects from the roster.
Again, you could do worse than the Cavs' current point guard situation. This season, we get a chance to see what draft picks Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson can do. Sure, it's not as sexy as nabbing a big-name point guard, but if the Cavs are going to become a perennial title contender, they have to find draft picks who can contribute from the first year. How Brown and Gibson perform this season will be a great barometer on what kind of GM Danny Ferry really is, what kind of moves he can make when he doesn't have $28 million of cap room to spend.
The nip-and-tuck moves Ferry can make might be his most valuable. If the Cavs have the nucleus of LeBron, Gooden, Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas intact for the coming years, this team might progress without making huge moves. As I said at the outset of the offseason, stability should be a priority after several years of roster turnover.
Re-signing Gooden would help stabilize the roster in a big way. Despite what some fans might think of his inconsistent game, he is the poster child of "you could certainly do worse." Reggie Evans, anyone? A platoon of Anderson Varejao and Donyell Marshall?
If I can't have Tim Duncan, I'll take Gooden over starting with those guys any day.
Take it for what it's worth. Channel 19 disclosed no details if they had any, and remember that this is the channel that has made impulsive and irresponsible journalism a hallmark of every newscast.
I won't totally believe the story until it's corroborated by a reputable source like the Associated Press or the Akron Beacon Journal's Brian Windhorst. But if it is true, it's big news for the Cavs.
We've all be waiting for the Cavs to take a significant step forward this summer, certainly as it appears the Bulls have taken a major step forward by signing Ben Wallace and the Bucks and Pistons have at least managed to tread water.
But even more important is ensuring that the Cavs don't take a step backward. Re-signing Gooden would do just that.
And honestly, knowing that the Cavs won 50 games last season, and knowing that LeBron James has improved by leaps and bounds every season, there are far worse things the Cavs can do besides stand pat.
The Cavs went in to the offseason with three main objectives: sign LeBron to an extension, figure out what to do with Gooden, and upgrade the point guard position.
A re-signing of Gooden would put two of those goals in the bag. As far as a better point guard, that's going to be kind of difficult to accomplish in a trade or free agency. The point guard free agent class was thin this summer, and the bulky contracts of Eric Snow and Damon Jones are proving to be immovable objects from the roster.
Again, you could do worse than the Cavs' current point guard situation. This season, we get a chance to see what draft picks Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson can do. Sure, it's not as sexy as nabbing a big-name point guard, but if the Cavs are going to become a perennial title contender, they have to find draft picks who can contribute from the first year. How Brown and Gibson perform this season will be a great barometer on what kind of GM Danny Ferry really is, what kind of moves he can make when he doesn't have $28 million of cap room to spend.
The nip-and-tuck moves Ferry can make might be his most valuable. If the Cavs have the nucleus of LeBron, Gooden, Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas intact for the coming years, this team might progress without making huge moves. As I said at the outset of the offseason, stability should be a priority after several years of roster turnover.
Re-signing Gooden would help stabilize the roster in a big way. Despite what some fans might think of his inconsistent game, he is the poster child of "you could certainly do worse." Reggie Evans, anyone? A platoon of Anderson Varejao and Donyell Marshall?
If I can't have Tim Duncan, I'll take Gooden over starting with those guys any day.
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