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Walter Payton (STC) – Browns Lacking In Offensive Talent

August 4th, 2010 Posted in Cleveland Browns, NFL, Walter Payton
Aug, 04 2010
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Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns fans are blindly optimistic going into every year, no matter what players are on the roster or whoever the coach is leading the pack.

Before the season begins Browns fans have playoff aspirations but more times than not, usually after week six, the “we will get them next year” chants begin and life as a Cleveland sports fan will return to an attitude overflowing with low expectations.

But why “drink the Kool-Aid”?

Here is the truth; throughout this off season, teams in the AFC North have made major moves to make their teams more competitive offensively.

The Browns on the other hand have not really improved. I believe that the Browns will once again be in a familiar place at the bottom of the AFC North division.

Here is where I rank the AFC North offenses for the upcoming season:

Cincinnati Bengals

Coach: Marvin Lewis – C+
Quarterback: Carson Palmer – B+
Wide Receivers: Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens – A-
Running Backs: Cedric Benson – A
Offensive Line: B

Baltimore Ravens

Coach: John Harbaugh – B
Quarterback: Joe Flacco – B
Wide Recievers: Anquan Boldin – B
Running Backs: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain – A
Offensive Line: A

Pittsburgh Steelers

Coach: Mike Tomlin – B+
Quarterback: Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger – C+
Wide Recievers: Hines Ward and, Mike Wallace, and Antwaan Randle El – C+
Running Backs: Rashard Mendenhall – B
Offensive Line: C

Cleveland Browns

Coach: Eric Mangini – D+

QB -Jake Delhomme – F
He is coming off his worst season as an NFL QB throwing 18 interceptions to only 8 touchdowns with a pretty decent offense around him. The good news with Jake is he is two years removed from major surgery on his throwing arm and hopefully he is looking for redemption, but in my opinion he is damaged goods and will be on the bench before week ten.

RB -Jerome Harrison – B
One of the pleasant surprises of last season was the way Harrison preformed in the last few games of the season, breaking Jim Brown’s single game rushing record, running for 286 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in week 15.

But, there are question marks surrounding Harrison:

1) Can he stay healthy?
2) Can he be an ‘every down’ back?

In my opinion, he is a very lethal weapon when he has the ball in his hands. I don’t think he is big enough to be an “every down” back but give him 15 carries a game and make sure you throw him some screens so he can be one on one in open space. I really think he can make some positive things happen for the Browns this year.

All purpose-Josh Cribbs – A
Last but definitely not least, Mr. Everything for the Cleveland Browns, special teams beast with 1 punt return for a touchdown, 3 kickoff returns for touchdowns, 1 receiving touchdown and 1 rushing touchdown for Cribbs. Josh Cribbs’s value is not matched by any player on the team.

Offensive Line: B

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Walter Payton (STC) – What Is Dan Gilbert’s Plan B?

July 19th, 2010 Posted in Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, Walter Payton
Jul, 19 2010
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Cleveland Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Being a sports fan my entire life I have learned that players come and go and it is not the player but the franchise that owes a fan a competitive product.

What really upsets me is if LeBron James was plan A, what the heck is plan B?

It has been a week and a half since “The Decision” was televised on ESPN and no moves have been made by the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. The only reported news is about all of the players that the Cavs have lost out on. These players include Al Jefferson, who went to the Utah Jazz for two future first round draft picks. Josh Childress, to the Pheonix Suns for a second round pick and Kyle Lowry, who will remain with the the Houston Rockets after they matched the offer sheet from the Cavs.

The letter to the Cleveland fans from Cavs Majority Owner Dan Gilbert was passionate, heart felt, and at the same time ridiculous.

A professional team owner can’t just say what he wants and not produce.

Dan Gilbert proclaimed, “I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA Championship before the self-titled former ‘king’ wins one.”

I’m sure that this statement was meant to inspire Cleveland fans in a time of anger and frustration. Okay, I understand Dan Gilbert’s position but when a statement as bold as that is made, a rock solid plan should be in place.

If I were Dan Gilbert, my plan would be simple. I would let the basketball minds make basketball decisions by allowing Cavs GM Chris Grant and Cavs new head coach Byron Scott come together and put the right pieces together to make the Cavs a top contending team.

That would involve waiting out the bad contracts of Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams and being prudent, responsible and perhaps a little lucky with the Cavs’ resources.

For example, the four draft picks received from the James sign and trade, future top draft picks that will be received from being a rebuilding team and taking advantage of cap space for signing free agents. If this plan or something similar is implemented then the Cavs will be competitive again.

It will take time and patience but in a few short years the Cavaliers can compete for title once again.

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Walter Payton (STC) – For LeBron James, There’s No Place Like Home

July 6th, 2010 Posted in Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, Walter Payton
Jul, 06 2010
2 Comments »

Dorothy isn't the only person who knows there's no place like home. LeBron James knows it too.

“There’s no place like home, there is no place like home…”

That little line from The Wizard Of Oz is playing in LeBron James head over and over again. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio James is likely facing the most difficult decision of his NBA career; the $125 million question – should he stay or should he go?

Put yourself in James’ shoes for a second (or longer – Nike will appreciate the support). There is no question that his first choice is Cleveland but to not entertain offers from other teams would be cheating himself out of a basic right that every working person has and that is the oppurtunity to better your career path and at the end of the day James will figure out what is good for him, his family and his career.

There is nothing wrong with James testing the waters. It’s difficult for many to take their ‘fan hat’ off and realize that this is a business and if the Cleveland Cavaliers front office do not handle their business correctly they could lose their shot at retaining The King.

It is as simple as that.

Cleveland is still the front runner because it is the only place where James can be a king. All the other teams that realistically have a chance of landing James already have their championships so anything outside of winning multiple championships would go unappreciated.

But if James wins a ring in Cleveland he would probably have a suburb named after him. James wants to win a championship – everyone knows that. That said the questions now being asked are:

Is he willing to sacrifice all the glory to do so?

Is he willing to take on the criticisms that he couldn’t do it himself and needed to go to another city, with another GM, and other players, and another coach?

In my opinion LeBron James wants a team that is all his. James and the Cavs have built a successful franchise in Cleveland and the only thing that is left is winning a championship. He knows if he leaves Cleveland after his game 5 performance against the Boston Celtics his legacy will be tarnished.

I have evaluated all of the logical places I think James could go and play basketball for and no matter how I look at it I find him back in Cleveland.

Lets take the Chicago Bulls for example – they hire an assistant coach that is known for his defense. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but for some reason I think I know how this story ends.

Good playoff runs, a coach of the year, two 60-win seasons and no championship after 5 years. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. James has inferred he wanted to play for a coach that has played in the league.

Chicago also gets passed over because they don’t have enough knock down shooters because anyone who has seen James play knows he demands a lot of attention which equals wide open jump shots and looking at that roster they would not be able to capitalize from beyond the arc.

Let’s look at the New York Knicks. Besides being a big city it really has no attractive pieces on the roster but Amare Stoudemire. Is he that big of a difference maker? He looked pretty average during the Lakers series not even averaging a double-double in the most important games of the season and every NBA fan knows about his defense or lack there of, and if James does not remember here is some more valuable information.

Mike D’Antoni coached a team with Steve Nash, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. Those are 4 all-star caliber players and he still couldn’t get the job done. Would James really want to entrust his career with a coach that can care less about defense and when he did have a championship level team he fell short.

Last but not least, the Miami Heat. LeBron James is ‘Batman’ he is not going to be Dwyane Wade’s ‘Robin’. End of story.

Don’t worry Cavs fans – there’s no place like home for the king, and home will remain Cleveland.

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