Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering what happened to Notre Dame last night, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* I still can't believe how bad Notre Dame looked last night. Alabama completely dominated the game. I guess I was thinking with my heart as opposed to my head.
* In spite of the whipping they took last night, Notre Dame seems to be on the right track to remain a top team in college football.
* Isn't it amazing that the two home teams in the AFC Playoff Games (Denver & New England) are both favored by 10 points.
* Hopefully, we will only have one more week of the idolization of Ray Lewis.
* The Cleveland Browns coaching search has turned into a media circus. Not sure who was responsible for the news last Friday that Chip Kelly was going to be the Browns next head coach but when Kelly headed back to Oregon, whoever the Browns hire will be viewed as being chopped liver. The Dynamic Duo of Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner have built up expectations that they may not be able to meet.
* Let me be clear, I was never sold on Chip Kelly. His style of offense would have resulted in a major upheaval of the Browns offensive roster. If Jon Gruden is not interested, there are only two names I would be interested in: Ken Whisenhunt or Lovie Smith.
* The NHL is back and the drumbeat for Brian Burke's head has already started in some quarters in Toronto. I will say it again: Burke has built this team's farm system up, made it younger and has it positioned very well for next season and the lower salary cap.
* Any Leaf fan who doesn't think the Leafs shouldn't get Roberto Luongo are out of their minds. Luongo could be the difference between making the playoffs or not.
* Last night's Knicks-Celtics game turned nasty and can only lead one to wonder what a playoff series between these two teams would be like.
* Western New York will have an alternative to the gasbags at WGR 550 with the new sports station 1270 The Fan, which was formerly WHLD. The Fan is affiliated with CBS Sports and will have one local show between 12noon and 3pm. Won't it be fun to have a sports talk station that will talk about baseball, basketball, and top sports stories as opposed to food drafts.
* The GR boys are already proclaiming that the Sabres are Stanley Cup bound. These guys are at it again. Build up the expectations and when there is no Cup, they will criticize Louie Lackawanna and Chester Cheektowaga for calling in and whining.
* And finally, good luck to new Bills coach Doug Marrone. You'll need it.
Yankee Fans Deserve Answers
Yankee fans typically know that their team is committed to getting better in the off season. The team's organizational goal is to win the World Series. This has been the Yankee mission statement since George Steinbrenner bought the team 40 years ago. But this winter has been different. While the Yankee brass mouth the mission statement, their actions give fans cause for concern. So my question to Hal Steinbrenner, Lonn Trost, Randy Levine and Brian Cashman is: what's the long-term plan for this franchise??
You see for the first time since the Steinbrenner family has owned the Yankees, the team will place its own salary cap on its payroll. As Joel Sherman reported first many months ago, the Yankees have stated that they will get their payroll down to $189 million by 2014. As a result, Brian Cashman has only signed free agents to one year deals (with exception of Ichiro) thus excluding them from many outfield and third base options. This has led to the Yankees being one of the oldest teams in baseball and still having questions at catcher and who will be their right-handed hitting outfielder. Not to mention who will be their everyday DH.
Would the Yankees under George Steinbrenner be content with either Francisco Cervelli or Chris Stewart as their starting catcher. Would Matt Diaz be their right-hand hitting outfielder?? Would Russ Canzler be the answer to replace Nick Swisher?? Would Eduardo Nunez be the everyday designated hitter?? My answer to all of those questions is probably not.
New York is the toughest media market in the world. That being the case, I am asking Mike Francesa, Joel Sherman, Jack Curry, Ken Davidoff, Anthony McCarron, Mark Feinsand, George King III or Bill Madden to begin asking the question: What is the long-term plan for this franchise?? If payroll reduction is the answer, what is the plan as far as re-signing Robinson Cano? Will Curtis Granderson be re-signed or will he be traded?? When the contracts of the following players expire who will replace Hiroki Kuroda, Mariano Rivera, Kevin Youkilis, and Andy Pettite. And finally, has the Yankee mission statement changed??
As Yankee fans who have supported this team, making it the richest professional sports organization in the world, we deserve answers. We deserve to know what the long-range plan is for this team. We deserve to know what the timetable is for Mike Montgomery, Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, Manny Banuelos and whoever else Cashman & Company want to sell us as being the next young group to lead us to the Canyon of Heroes. In my mind, its the least they can do.
Kelly To Browns & Why I’m Concerned
There were reports throughout the evening that Chip Kelly was going to be the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Bills fans here in Western New York were disappointed as they were hoping that their team would get him. Then late last night, Chris Mortensen reported that Kelly was going to meet with the Bills and then on Saturday meet with the Eagles. This after meeting seven hours with the Browns, including dinner.
While Philadelphia and Buffalo were continuing to interview other candidates, the Browns still seem to be the favorites to get the offensive guru from Oregon. I have been trying to get excited about this move. I was thinking about how there would be an improvement in the red zone as the Browns wouldn't be settling for field goals anymore. I wanted to be excited because everyone else was telling me I should be excited but for some reason I couldn't.
Kelly has never coached in the NFL. There are restrictions on the number of players you can have on the roster. You can't go out and recruit players for a specific system or position, you need to be able to draft them. You need to be able to manage a salary cap. You have to deal with teams week in and week out who have as many talented players as you do. But what really makes me nervous is whether or not the current roster will fit Chip Kelly's offense. And the key to running an offense is at quarterback and I'm not sure if the Browns have the right one for the Quack Attack.
There are those that say that Kelly is smart enough to know that he is not going to carbon copy his Oregon offense in Cleveland. They point to the adaptation of the Oregon offense in New England with Bill Belichik. Brandon Weeden did operate out of a shotgun style spread offense at Oklahoma State. Could that be the direction Kelly takes?? None of us know. But my concern is that if there is the need for another quarterback we are at square one again and that's something I'm not sure any Browns fan can deal with. We've been dealing with it since 1999.
So, unless the Eagles or Bills can rock Chip Kelly's world, it looks like he's headed to Cleveland and I'll be holding my breathe. I've been excited before only to be let down and for some reason I just have a bad feeling about this hire. Here's hoping I'm wrong.
The Deification Of Ray Lewis
On Wednesday it was announced that Ray Lewis would be retiring at the end of the Baltimore Ravens playoff-run. Yesterday, it was reported that ESPN has worked out a deal with Lewis to be on "Monday Night Countdown" next season. The accolades have poured in since Wednesday, some making the claim that Lewis was the greatest middle linebacker of all time. I also saw an article which proclaimed that Ray Lewis was the greatest leader in pro football.
You can't deny Lewis' on-the-field accomplishments. He has been to 13 Pro Bowls, selected All-Pro 10 times, named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV. Such a career warrants a first ballot selection to the Hall of Fame. However, when it's all said and done, give me Mike Singletary over Ray Lewis any day of the week. You see to me you need to be the whole package in order to be consider a great leader and the greatest middle linebacker of all-time and in my mind Ray Lewis doesn't cut it.
I have a problem with Ray Lewis for two reasons. The first one has to do with the ridiculous pre-game performance that the NFL has endorsed. Lewis' primal screaming as he runs on the field is more befitting a rank amateur than a professional. In my mind, it's contrived and nothing more than an attempt to be an attention grabber which has worked out well for Lewis. It represents a thug-like culture which has pervaded the NFL for the last 10 to 15 years. Somehow I can't imagine Singletary, Dick Butkus, Harry Carson, Ray Nitschke or Jack Lambert coming onto the field screaming like a wild animal. Lewis' act represents the self-promoting nonsense that runs throughout all sports but is particularly frustrating to watch in the NFL especially when you see someone on defense celebrating like a mad dog when they have made a tackle or sack and their team is down by 20 points. It irritates me to no end.
The second problem that I have with Ray Lewis has to do with the murder of Jacith Baker and Richard Lollar 13 years ago outside of a nightclub in Alanta. These two men were murdered as a result of a brawl with Ray Lewis and his friends. Lewis fled with his buddies in a stretch limo where he also disposed of his blood stained suit somewhere along the way. He was initially indicted on a murder charge, then plead down to an obstruction of justice charge after agreeing to testify against his two friends, Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting. Neither of them were convicted and Lewis eventually reached an undisclosed cash settlement with the victims' families. I wonder if the rage that is shown when Lewis comes out on the field was also exhibited that night in Atlanta. Is it part of his personality or is it all contrived?
My question is this: how is Ray Lewis' situation different than that of OJ Simpson's with respect to the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. In fact, Simpson was found not guilty to those murders. He didn't take a plea. Like Lewis, there ended up being a cash settlement as a result of a civil lawsuit filed by the Brown and Goldman families. Simpson was persona non-grata. I didn't see OJ being offered a job by ESPN. In fact, Simpson was a pariah. Yet, Lewis takes a plea after he destroyed his blood stained clothes, is convicted of an obstruction of justice charge and is going to be given a job on ESPN. Baker and Lollar were allowed to bleed out and die outside that nightclub while Lewis and Company fled the scene. Some leader.
The NFL has a culture of violence. Commissioner Roger Goodell has tried to crackdown on some of it but his efforts have been no where near effective. Players carrying guns, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and committing violence against wives or girl friends have marked the NFL for the last 15 years. But the NFL has no one to blame but itself. The league and its television partners have deified one of the biggest thugs around: Ray Lewis. Whether contrived or real, Lewis' act represents a violent culture as was borne out on that fateful night in Atlanta 13 years ago. Should Ray Lewis be in the NFL Hall of Fame: yes. But should he be considered the greatest linebacker ever: no. And he should never be considered a great leader because a leader doesn't run from his mistakes. He owns them and moves on. That's not what happened when Jacith Baker and Richard Lollar were allowed to bleed to death on the street in Atlanta 13 years ago.
Tuesday’s Thoughts
While wondering how long it takes to clean up Times Square, here is what's on my mind this morning:
* Seven coaches and five general managers were fired in the National Football League which is evidence that there were plenty of bad teams. There could be more firings coming as Mike Mularkey could be gone as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buddy Nix could be removed as GM of the Buffalo Bills.
* Watched Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner at yesterday's press conference and it appears that they are looking to make a big splash with their head coaching hire. It would appear that they are going to make a big push for Nick Saban. Not sure how happy I am about that.
* Was not surprised with the firing of Lovie Smith in Chicago. Smith is a good coach but the fact that the Bears have not been able to get their offense right in the last six years is what has kept them from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Smith won't stay unemployed for too long but the Bears needed a change.
* It is rumored that the Bills are interested in Smith and it would be a good hire for their defense but not sure what it would mean for their offense though I'm sure he would better utilize C.J. Spiller than Chan Gailey did.
* I also think Ken Whisenhunt won't be unemployed for that long either. Just remember he had the Arizona Cardinals a James Harrison pick six away from winning the Super Bowl.
* It appears that the NHL & the NHLPA are inching closer to a deal that could end the lockout. Here's hoping egos are kept in check so that hockey will start this month.
* If the NHL season does begin, I wonder how long it will take for the Toronto news media to begin bashing Leafs GM Brian Burke.
* ESPN Analyst Pierre LeBrun had some ideas as to how the NHL could make up with their fans for this ridiculous lockout. One of his suggestions was for the NHL Center Ice package to be free for this season. Now I can buy into that!!!
* And finally, here's hoping that you all have a Happy and Healthy 2013!!
2012 Ends, With Uncertainty For Yanks, Browns & Leafs
As 2012 ends, all 3 of my teams face the New Year with many questions. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Toronto Maple Leafs will actually begin playing in January. As the two sides are supposed to meet today, it will be interesting to see where the Leafs will be from a salary cap standpoint once the new CBA is agreed upon. There had been plenty of rumors that Roberto Luongo would be heading to Toronto. If that doesn't happen, the Leafs will head into a shortened season with James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in goal.
If the season is saved, a shortened training camp would seem to hinder Leaf Head Coach Randy Carlyle in trying to fully institute his system. The big questions facing the Leafs: Will Luongo be in the Blue and White?, will Tyler Bozak be the center for Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul?, will Nikolai Kulemin have a bounce back season?, and will Nazem Kadri finally exhibit the skills that made him the Leafs first round pick a couple of years ago? Oh, and the biggest question: will the Leafs make the playoffs?
The New York Yankees will head into the 2013 Major League Baseball season as one of the oldest teams in the sport. Hal Steinbrenner's edict to get under the salary cap in 2014 has left open many questions particularly since the Yankee farm system is no where near ready to fill the team's major league roster. The big questions facing the Yankees: Who will be the Yankees' starting catcher come April?, who will be the right-handed hitting outfielder?, will Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter be able to bounce back from injuries?, will ARod be playing in 2013 and at what level?, will Andy Pettite, Hiroki Kuroda and CC Sabathia remain healthy for the entire season and will Kevin Youkilis fit in as a Yankee? The biggest question: Will the Yankees make the playoffs?
Today is probably the day that the Cleveland Browns relieve Tom Heckert and Pat Shurmur of their duties as General Manager and Head Coach respectively. New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has vowed to return this once proud franchise back to NFL prominence. The big questions facing the Browns: Who will be the new head coach?, will it be someone with NFL experience or will it be a hot shot college coach?, will the new management structure with Joe Banner being in charge really work?, who will be the Browns' starting quarterback next season?, and will Joshua Cribbs and Phil Dawson be back with the team next season? The biggest question: Will the Browns go 8-8 in 2013?
Well, it looks like it will be an interesting year for all three teams. Fortunately, due to the NHL lockout, I have been re-connected to the New York Knicks who seem to have a real shot to make some noise in the NBA. Otherwise, 2013 could be another year of sports agony for me. Oh well, Happy 2013 and be safe this evening.
Tomorrow, the first 2013 Tuesdays Thoughts will be posted. Make sure you check it out.
Who Will Be The Next Browns’ Head Coach?
It has been reported that Head Coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert will no longer be with the Cleveland Browns after the game in Pittsburgh today. While I believe that Heckert has done a good job in bringing young talent in, I have never been sold on Pat Shurmur. His reputation as an offensive-minded coach was never exhibited in my mind. Even with the hiring of Brad Childress this year, the Browns offense was anemic especially in the red zone.
The key question is now what?? In looking at the available coaching candidates, I think that the Browns need to look for a head coach who has a reputation for developing quarterbacks. If they don't have that pedigree then he needs to be able to bring someone onto their staff who does. My ideal candidate would be Jon Gruden. It's time that the Browns have a proven winning NFL head coach to lead them. If Gruden is not available, then maybe they should look at his brother, Jay. Just look at the development of Andy Dalton.
Since 1999, the Browns have had 6 head coaches. The next one will make it seven. In the same period of time the Steelers have had two head coaches, the Ravens have had 2 head coaches and the Bengals have had three head coaches. This might explain why the Browns consistently are at the bottom of the AFC North.
When Mike Holmgren was hired as President of the Browns, it was hoped that having a football man in charge would turn things around. While the Holmgren regime brought in some good young players (Haden, Richardson, Ward, Sheard, Taylor, Gordon, etc.), it failed on its selection of Pat Shurmur as head coach and the jury is still out on the drafting of Colt McCoy and Brandon Weeden. The Haslam/Banner regime needs to get both spots right if this storied franchise is going to become relevant again. If the new regime wants to improve the fan experience they need to develop a team that will be competitive and win in the AFC North. New uniforms and stadium improvements won't cut it. Just Win Baby!!
It’s Been 48 Years Since A Browns Championship
December 27, 1964 the Cleveland Browns hosted the favored Baltimore Colts at Municipal Stadium for the NFL Championship. I was 7 years old and remember watching the game as the Browns shut out the Colts 27-0. This was the Johnny Unitas-led Colts, the highest scoring team in the NFL in 1964 being held off the scoreboard. My team were champions of the NFL. Little did I realize that it would be the last time I could say that.
Oh they certainly came close. The following year, the Browns were once again the Eastern Division Champions and faced the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field for the NFL title. This game had more significance as the winner would represent the NFL in the first Super Bowl game. On a muddy field, the Browns fell to the Packers in what was Jim Brown's last game.
In 1968, the Browns once again would face the Colts in the NFL Championship game but this time they lost badly at home 34-0. The following year, they traveled to Minneapolis to take on the Joe Kapp-led Vikings. Once again they came up short.
They wouldn't make it to a championship game again until the 1986 season when they were minutes away from heading to the Super Bowl only to have John Elway steal the game away. I actually think the 1987 team was much better and once again they found themselves facing the Broncos only this time in Denver. Karl Mecklenberg, the Bronco All-Pro linebacker, said that in the second half of that game the Broncos knew that they couldn't stop the Browns and he was right. I actually took that loss worse than the one the year before as the Browns were an Earnest Byner fumble away from going to the Super Bowl. I'm convinced they would have defeated the Redskins in the Super Bowl.
The Browns would make it to the AFC Championship Game one last time in the 1989 season, where they would once again lose to the Broncos. I haven't mentioned non-championship playoff game heart breakers like: the 1972 Miami game (could have spoiled Dolphins undefeated season), the 1980 Oakland game (Red Right 88), the 1988 Houston game (pass interference call not made), and the 2002 Pittsburgh game (where the Browns blew a 3rd Qtr. 24-7 lead).
All of those losses were tough to take. But I would love to experience those tough losses again because at least there was a chance to win it all. Ah the good old days. What a sad state of affairs.
Pro Bowl Selections: Who Cares??
Yesterday the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced. Joe Thomas made his 6th Pro Bowl and Phil Dawson was selected for the first time. While I was happy for Dawson, as a Browns fan does it really matter to me?? Am I suppose to get some gratification out of the fact that these two players made the AFC team and Josh Cribbs is a first alternate??
As a kid, I used to take pride when a member or members of my favorite team made their respective all-star teams. However, as I grew older and the all-star games lost their appeal, I could really care less how many Yankees, Browns or Maple Leafs make the all-star team. As a fan, I'm more concerned about how many wins my team has and whether or not I'm going to the post season.
The Browns are 5-10 and getting ready to play Pittsburgh with Thad Lewis at quarterback. Their facing an off season where there will be a new coach, new system and new management team. Team Upheaval on Lake Erie once again. With all of that going on I'm suppose to be happy and proud that Joe Thomas and Phil Dawson made the AFC Pro Bowl team?? Hardly.
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