The Cavs Will Win It All; the Tribe and Browns, Not So Much

As I write this entry, the Cavs have opened up a 13-2 lead to start the season opener against Boston.

But that's not why I'm going out on a limb and saying that Cleveland will win the NBA title this year. Nor is it Shaq. Or Anthony Parker. Or Jamario Moon. Although, those three will make a huge difference, as I said last time.

It's because the Cavs lost to the Orlando Magic in last year's Eastern Conference finals. Face it, they didn't expect that to happen. They were supremely confident, and certain that they were going to make it to the Finals -- and win.

They didn't. It was a tough pill to swallow. But it was the last piece of humble pie that they needed to eat, apparently. I wrote about this in detail in an article on BleacherReport.com.

Acta Skips the 'Stros to Skip the Tribe

OK, so the Indians went ahead and hired Manny Acta as their new manager. I was skeptical about Acta last time, but, now that the deed is done, I'll be pulling for him to do well.

Acta -- unlike, say, Bobby Valentine (what was his deal, anyway?) -- said all the right things after his interviews. He talked like he was enthusiastic about the Indians and wanted the job badly, and then put his money where his mouth was.

He says the Tribe has great young talent. I'll take his word for it. No question, Acta's appeal had a lot to do with his Latino heritage, and the fact that the Indians' system is loaded with Latino players.

But Acta has his work cut out for him. Not only does he need to nurture the Tribe's young talent, he has to win over a cynical fan base in Cleveland. It seems like longer than two years ago that the Indians were on the verge of advancing to the World Series, but that's all it was -- two years ago, in 2007.

Cleveland fans are jaded. Add in the debacle that is the Browns, and it doesn't make the situation any easier for the Tribe's new skipper. It will be an interesting offseason and crucial spring training for Acta as he begins his tenure at Progressive Field.

Anderson? Why?

Derek Anderson followed up a pitiful game in Buffalo with equally pitiful games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay. To his credit, he got the Browns a win, somehow. But he's not exactly instilling confidence in the Cleveland faithful.

No point laboring the statistical comparison to Brady Quinn. Quinn's number's in 10 quarters of play are better -- significantly so, some would say -- than Anderson's have been in the 18 since.

The 31-3 loss to the Packers has been called by some the worst Browns performance since their return to the league in 1999. And Anderson was at the helm. Yet Eric Mangini won't budge in his commitment to D.A.

Apparently, Quinn's window of opportunity in Cleveland has been closed. If so, it was shockingly short. But why? Anderson is proving he's not the answer.

At this rate, Mangini would be better off cutting his losses and going to his third QB, Jets import Brett Ratliff.

Or, he could do something interesting and go with Josh Cribbs. Make it a wildcat offense on every play. Cribbs was Kent State's quarterback for four years. Could he possibly be worse than what we've witnessed? One thing's for certain: He wouldn't be as boring, and the team would likely score some points.

What a sad state of affairs for a once proud franchise.

Whatever. At least the Cavs are back, and for that, Cleveland fans can be grateful.

On Shaq, Phil, Brady, Josh...and Sweet Lou Brown

Caught the Cavs’ preseason game Wednesday night against Washington. LeBron James was out with flu symptoms, so it was up to Shaquille O’Neal to make things interesting, and he did, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds in less than 20 minutes of action. You don’t get much from preseason games, but:

-- O’Neal looks good. If he averages 13 and 6 this season, he’ll match what Zydrunas Ilgauskas put up a year ago. If last night’s game was any indication, he’ll exceed that. He remains a force.

-- O’Neal is also entertaining. All eyes were on him, especially with LeBron out. He handles the attention and adulation with ease and is calm and unflappable. That will rub off on his teammates.

-- Ilgauskas looks lost. Sure, he’s adjusting to coming off the bench. But Mike Brown has to find a way to make Big Z feel like he’s an integral part of what’s going on out there. He was mostly on the floor with second, third and even fourth-stringers, and he didn't appear to be comfortable.

-- Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon are going to make a big difference. In fact, if this team stays healthy, they will be incredibly deep and versatile.

All that said, there was no real electricity in the arena last night, and that’s because LeBron wasn’t there. Anyone who doubts how much he transcends the sport today simply isn’t paying attention. It’s his team, his city, and, for that matter, his league. No one on the floor last night comes remotely close to James in talent. Dan Gilbert needs to do whatever is necessary to keep Number 23 in a Cavaliers uniform.

Browns fans can relax: Phil Dawson is on the mend! Let’s face it, the co-MVPs of this team are Dawson and punter Dave Zastudil (last week’s AFC Special Teams Player of the Week) -- at least, that’s how it seems. Dawson, who has been nursing a sore hamstring for two weeks, may not kick against Pittsburgh this week, but should be fine for the Packers the following week. I’ve said before that Dawson has quietly put up numbers that make him one of the all-time greats in Browns history. You can read my thoughts on the subject here. Maybe the new Browns marketing slogan should be, “We’re Kickin’ in Cleveland!”

So Brady Quinn has put his house up for sale. Wouldn’t you? All the right things have been said this week, by Quinn and the Browns. But the situation is curious, if not ominous. Reports say Quinn is unhappy with his benching. Ah, yet another young quarterback casualty in Cleveland. What a mess. Eric Mangini seems committed to Derek Anderson, who has steered the ship through two close games. Yet Anderson’s 2-for-17 performance against Buffalo was so astonishingly inept that it’s impossible to believe he’s the answer. But, as Terry Pluto pointed out in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns think their running game has improved because D.A. is a threat to throw deep. So Anderson it is, and, one way or another, Quinn will be moving.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated thinks Josh Cribbs is the best special teams player in the NFL. He’s not alone. I joked with a guy at the stadium recently that the Browns should line Cribbs up 30 yards behind the quarterback on offense, and then have Anderson turn around and throw a high lob pass back to him. In other words, simulate a punt or kickoff return on every play. The law of averages, not to mention recent evidence, says that Cribbs would return one for a touchdown more frequently than the rest of the offense would ever score.

Cribbs was an explosive offensive weapon at Kent State (right), where he played quarterback for four seasons, leaving as the all-time total offense leader with 10,839 yards. He also holds school records in completions, passing yards, touchdowns and total points. Twice, he rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards in the same season -- one of only four players in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. His senior year, he completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,215 yards and 17 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. He also rushed for 893 yards and nine TDs! He is the only player in NCAA history to lead his team in passing and rushing for four consecutive seasons.

And we’re lamenting the fact that he isn’t a true #2…receiver? The mind reels. All I know is, when Josh Cribbs steps on the field, there is hope. Make of it what you will.

Good one, Big Ben – very funny: Read an item that said when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, an Ohio native, was passed over by the Browns in the 2004 draft – they traded up to take Kellen Winslow – Big Ben was upset. Now, he admits he “wouldn’t trade where I am now for anything. . .I’m kind of happy here.” No kidding.

The Indians are interviewing Manny Acta for their managerial position? Really? Acta went 158-252 in two-plus seasons managing the Washington Nationals. I mean, could we please bring in a proven winner? Is it that hard?

Then again, it is the suddenly moribund Indians. The mind wanders to the classic line from that wise sage Lou Brown (left) in the movie “Major League,” when fictional GM Charlie Donovan calls him at the auto shop where he's working and asks him if he’d like to manage the Tribe: “Let me get back to you, will ya’, Charlie? I’ve got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.”

Till next time…

A Dark Day on the Lakefront

This is what it has come to.

In the same day, all three Cleveland sports teams dominated local news and garnered national media attention, each with bizarre twists that seemingly can only happen in Cleveland – at the same time, anyway.

The Indians? They fired manager Eric Wedge…but said he and his staff will stay on to finish the season. “In this game, situations often dictate decisions, and often the blame or the change occurs in one place when the reasons for that and the accountability for that lies throughout an organization,” said GM Mark Shapiro, stopping short of resigning himself.

The Browns? After spending five months conducting a quarterback contest between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, and choosing Quinn to be the starter, Eric Mangini reversed himself and switched to Anderson. Of his new starter’s 30-minute, three-interception relief appearance against Baltimore, Mangini said, “He did some good things.” Well, so did the captain of the Titanic.

The Cavs? Starting guard Delonte West remained a no-show at training camp, somehow knocking the LeBron James-Shaquille O’Neal pairing off the front pages for the second straight day. Because West continues to battle depression and various inner demons, I’m inclined to leave this one alone.

Nonetheless, for Cleveland sports fans this was – to borrow a phrase from my favorite funny man, Lewis Black – the “trifecta from hell.” Think about it: All in Cleveland? All in the same day? Really?

Some thoughts:

Regarding Wedge, Shapiro and team president Paul Dolan were correct in the vaguely describing the firing as, well, “the tried and true way of baseball.” Right or wrong, that is how it works. When the house is tumbling down around you and you need to give the impression of making a quick fix, you fire the manager – and they did. That’s not to say Wedge didn’t have it coming. His teams’ perennial slow starts, coupled with his frequently odd personnel decisions and lineup switcheroos, have a lot to do with the current mess. But, to his credit, Wedge conducted himself with class over the whole thing. He wanted to know his status now for next year, and they told him. Case closed. He’ll move on, probably to something better. And he’ll collect $1.25 million next year, regardless. Why do I get the feeling he’s getting the good end of this deal?

Regarding Anderson…who cares, really? I’ve been in favor of giving Quinn a chance, and am not persuaded that 10 quarters of football as the starter constitutes “a chance.” On the other hand, it’s becoming apparent that Quinn is not the kind of quarterback who is capable of rallying a miserable team to play above its skill level (think Culpepper, McNabb or Vick in their primes). Passes have been sailing behind or over targets, and others have been surprisingly wobbly. Perhaps his confidence has taken a beating playing for the Browns (who’s hasn’t?), but still, he’s struggled. So it’s back to Anderson, and…who cares? Honestly, being a Browns fan in Northeast Ohio has become surreal. Since 1999 they’ve been a shell of what the franchise was before the Modell move, and it’s not unusual anymore to see Steelers memorabilia worn and displayed in neighborhoods from Cleveland to Canton and all points in between. That never would have happened in the Jim Brown-Brian Sipe-Bernie Kosar eras. But it happens now, and, sadly, people care less and less and less.

Regarding West, as I said, I’m inclined to leave this one alone. He says he’s troubled, the Cavs openly admit it, so I believe it. Getting arrested riding a motorcycle (something banned by his contract) and carrying three firearms (something banned by common sense, if not a few laws or ordinances) is a clear warning signal. West was present for media day earlier in the week, then disappeared from view. All the Cavs are saying is that GM Danny Ferry has been in touch with West and had at least one long conversation with him. His teammates are expressing support and letting him know, publicly, that he’s always welcome back. It’s all you can do, and the Cavs – Cleveland’s beacon of hope in an otherwise stormy sports sea – seem, as usual, to be handling the situation with respect and professionalism. The question confronting them is, How long can they ride out this storm before it has a permanently negative effect on the team?

Anyway, I’m amazed at all that happened Wednesday. I don’t know if September 30, 2009, was a day that will go down in Cleveland sports infamy, or what. But it was some kind of day, that’s for sure.

Orange You Glad It Was Only One Game?

Honestly.

“Quinn unimpressive.” “Browns are just as bad as we thought.” “Meltdown.”

So said headlines in area papers on this, the day after the opening Sunday of the NFL season.

Oh, boo, hoo. The Browns lost.

This is a surprise? Really? THE VIKINGS ARE BETTER! Why is that so hard to admit? Why is it that fans and media pundits alike allow themselves to pretend things are going to be better than they are?

I was talking to a friend at a high school football game the other night, and asked him how many games he thought the Browns would win this season. He said five. I countered with four.

The Vikings game was not one of the four. So why are we dissecting this thing like it was a game of consequence? It wasn’t. It was a brutal job of scheduling by the NFL, throwing the Browns to the wolves like that, right out of the gate. The Vikings have the talent to take Cleveland to the woodshed, and did.

So, Brady Quinn didn’t look like Joe Montana. Neither did Joe Montana, early in his career. I lived in Texas when Troy Aikman joined the Dallas Cowboys. He, and the team, were pitiful his rookie year. In short order they won three Super Bowls, and Aikman ended up in the Hall of Fame. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen.

I have no idea when, or even if, the Browns will be contenders again. I was never particularly thrilled with the choice of Eric Mangini as head coach, but I’m willing to give the guy a chance. The team looked okay for a couple of quarters, not-so-okay after that. No big deal, if you ask me. Add a quarter here, and a quarter there, and who knows what might happen?

Four wins? More? Less?

Nobody knows. But the better team won on Sunday, and I wasn't particularly dismayed by it. Why is everyone else?

The Bright Side of the Browns’ Latest Loss

Unbelievably, the Browns again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory Thursday night, stumbling through a miserable fourth quarter en route to a 34-30 loss to the Denver Broncos – their second straight shocking collapse at home.

Whatever. Dissect it all you want, wail and cry all you want, but today, I’m a pretty happy man. Because the Brady Quinn era has started, and not a moment too soon.

Nothing against Derek Anderson, who accomplished far more in the position than I ever expected, and actually turned in a memorable year in 2007. A Pro Bowl year, in fact. It earned him a hefty new contract, so let’s hold the tears for D.A. I suspect he may turn up as a starter somewhere else down the road, and if that happens I’ll be rooting for him to do well.

But Quinn not only looked sharp in his professional debut, he said things afterward that sounded like the words of a champion. To wit:

"I told everyone, this one is flat on me," Quinn said. "I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win.”

Hear that, Braylon Edwards?

More Quinn: ''There was no doubt in my mind when I walked out there that we were going to score on every drive. If you don't think like that, you're not going to be successful.''

Imagine that.

And finally, commenting on two Phil Dawson field goals, Quinn said this: "The frustrating thing was coming away with field goals instead of touchdowns. Nothing against Phil Dawson, but we've got to get sevens there."

Think about that. Points weren’t enough. Only seven points would have made him happy. Making plays in the clutch, and scoring on every drive, is the only acceptable result.

When is the last time you heard a Cleveland quarterback talk that way?

And this is the guy that the Browns' brain trust left standing on the sidelines for 24 games?

I’ve been to the stadium to see the Browns twice in the last two years. Both times, during warm-ups, there was one quarterback who stood out in my mind: Brady Quinn. He moved like a leader and threw like he was born to do it. Tight spirals. Accurate throws. By comparison, Anderson, Ken Dorsey, and, last year, Charlie Frye, looked average at best.

Well, all that’s changed. Brady has arrived. Take heart, Browns fans.

Bumbling Browns

Yecccch.

Sunday's 28-10 loss by the Browns at Baltimore was ridiculous -- inexcusable on many levels. Fans are harping about Derek Anderson -- and yes, he was bad -- but the whole team looked lethargic and undisciplined. After an early drive showed such promise and resulted in a touchdown (and a 7-0 lead), the Browns simply frittered away the remainder of the game. You can cut the defense a little slack -- after all, they were handed impossible situations more than once thanks to DA's interceptions -- but, once again, this was a team that appeared to be woefully unprepared and terribly outplayed. The longer the game went on, the worse it got, and it became difficult and disappointing to watch.

And it comes down to coaching. There's simply not much being said, at any level, about Romeo Crennel's genius as a football coach. People more knowledgeable than I are not exactly leaping to his defense, which confirms my suspicions that there's a problem at the top. The fact is, the Browns have played seven games this year and lost them all: four in the preseason, and three in the regular season. It's been ugly, frustrating and shocking, all at once. Fans came into the season with enormous expectations. There was, no doubt, some wishful thinking involved, but 0-3? That's simply inexcusable.

While we're on the subject of Romeo Crennel, I want to scream when he refuses to refer to players by name during press conferences. This time he talked about getting more reps at quarterback for "the other guy" -- instead of referring to Brady Quinn by name.

Here's a suggestion for Phil Savage and Randy Lerner: How about, real soon, you refer to Crennel as "the former coach?"

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

Talkin' Pitching -- the Horsehide and the Pigskin

At least Aaron Laffey took the pressure off of everyone.

His throwing error in the second inning of Thursday afternoon's win over Oakland allowed a runner to score and ended the Tribe starters' string of scoreless innings pitched at 44-1/3. Laffey went on to work seven innings in a 4-2 victory, Cleveland's eighth in 10 games.

Don't look now, but the Indians are in first place.

Laffey, who has taken over the fifth starter spot in place of the injured Jake Westbrook, now sports a 1.35 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record. Westbrook was 1-2, 2.73 before his injury.

Cleveland's starting pitching of late has been magnificent. We've talked about Cliff Lee (6-0, 0.67 ERA) and Fausto Carmona (4-1, 2.40). Paul Byrd's ERA is 3.61, and C.C. Sabathia, following early season struggles, has allowed just one run over 16 innings in his last two starts, striking out 20 along the way.

The scoreless innings streak was the Indians' longest by a starting staff since the Tribe foursome of Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Gene Bearden and Sam Zoldak hurled 47 straight in 1948. And it's the longest in baseball in over 30 years, since the Orioles' staff tossed 54 in a row in 1974. Pretty heady stuff.

The Indians' climb into first place proves the old theory: In baseball, pitching wins championships. Cleveland is dead last in the American League in team hitting, at .236. But they're first in team ERA, at 3.26. Detroit, meanwhile, is in last place in the division, despite being tied for 5th in the league with a .262 team batting average. That's because their team ERA of 5.05 is at the bottom of the charts.

If the Tribe's bats come alive, and their relievers settle in, and someone steps up to claim the closer role, the team will be a force to be reckoned with. For now, thank the starters for their recent rise to prominence.

And, in Browns' Town...

About time I chimed in on the Browns, bumped as they are from the headlines at this time of year.

Lots of excited chatter going on as the 2008 season approaches. Experts are predicting big things -- including a first place finish in the AFC North, according to some. The TV networks have come a-calling and the Browns will make a splash on the prime time scene in a major way this fall, for the first time since their return to the league in 1999.

So why not make Brady Quinn the quarterback? At least, that's what some fans have been asking.

Two words: Steve Young.

You know, the Hall of Fame quarterback from the 49ers. Super Bowl champion. Seven-time All-Pro.

Well, Steve wasn't so young when he took over as the 49ers QB in 1991. What was he, 26? 28, maybe?

Try 30. After a couple of seasons in the USFL, Young joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985, at age 24. He started for them the following year, then winged his way to San Fran for what would turn out to be a 13-year ride.

Of course, Joe Montana was in his heyday at the helm of the 49ers when Young arrived, so he had to bide his time. For four years. By the time he cracked the starting lineup, he was 30. And it wasn't until the following year, when he was 31, that he began the string of seven sterling seasons that would earn him a spot in Canton.

The moral of the story is simple. There's plenty of time for Brady Quinn to develop, learn the game, and one day earn his shot. He's only 23. Time is on his side.

In the meantime, the Browns are doing the right thing by sticking with Derek Anderson, to see if last year was the real thing or a fluke. Either way, they're in great shape. If Anderson continues to shine, it's a good thing. If he struggles, then Quinn's opportunity will come.

Where there's smoke...

Finally, here's a vote for ending the pregame pyrotechnics in NBA arenas. Cleveland's Ben Wallace and Delonte West retreated to the locker room rather than having to endure the aftermath of the controlled detonations that occurred prior to Wednesday's game in Boston. Wallace didn't want to risk another dizzy spell, and West has been bothered by an eye infection.

Marketing is a fact of life in pro sports, but some things go way beyond the extreme. This is one. Games actually get underway with a cloud of smoke in the air. That's ridiculous, and the league ought to bring it to a halt.