Quinn Traded To Denver, Mike Holmgren's Leadership At Work

A Busy Browns Weekend,  Beyond March Madness…

All of you negative naysayers, especially you Quinn haters, are out of touch. Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace will ONLY be the Browns starter, if we draft a rookie  to understudy one of these .

My preference would have been to keep Quinn and give him a fair chance to be our starter for a complete 16 game schedule. But since Quinn has been traded to Denver, I would like to see us draft Tony Pike from U. Cincinnati or LeFevoure from Central Michigan over Sam Bradford(injured throwing shoulder),Colt McCoy(short, ?arm strength) or Tim Tebow(bad habits with throwing mechanics).

Ultimately, especially those who have that negative attitude we are cursed and will never win the Super Bowl in Cleveland; you people need to get over it. You get what you think about all day long and your attitude is a self fulfilling prophecy.

HEADLINES, ATTENTION, FOR BROWNS FANS LIVING IN  CAVES. The Art Modell Melancholy, Carmen Policy Hangover, Butch Davis Debacle, Phil Savage Temp Team, George Kokinis Cup of Coffee era is over.

Mike Holmgren is assembling a Super Bowl contender. Holmgren is a

 professional,motivational,accomplished(3 Super Bowls and 1 Super Bowl ring),intelligent, networked, detail oriented, Bill Walsh student, Hall of Fame QB mentoring resume(Montana, Young, Favre), not to mention Matt Hasselback taking Seattle to a Super Bowl in his regime. Randy Lerner is to be applauded for admitting his mistakes since taking over for his father and going out and acquiring a winning, accomplished, experienced football man to run the team.

This is a BRAVE NEW ERA IN BROWNS HISTORY and Mike Holmgren will transform us into a contender, a winning team consistently and within 3 years take us to a Super Bowl. Because I believe that, I ultimately trust Mike Holmgren’s  judgement, just as in retaining Mangini, that he will find and select the best starting QB for the Browns in 2010. For those negative gloom and doomers, you have the option to jump on board or be left in the wake of what you complain about all the time, a whirlpool of losers.

I have a sports blog if you would like to respond for or against my position. I will be glad to debate anyone head to head on my blog. Especially you gloom and doomers who probably won't take the time to comment because your too busy complaining.

Tom Eardley

The Cleveland Professor

MY SPORTSBLOG

http://maddawgsclevelandsportsfans.blogspot.com

Browns update with QB rumors; Cavs lineup without LeBron @ Milwaukee

On The Brownies...
I like Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Delhomme,Donovan McNabb or David Carr as mentors, backups to Brady Quinn. If Mike Holmgren is fair and consistent, like Mangini, he will give Brady time to prove himself with a legitimate and proven offensive coordinator, not a 9 year QB coach like Daboll. Daboll lacks the knowledge and experience to compete at the elite level it takes to make the proper calls in the NFL. He is an understudy, not a ready for primetime player, but Holmgren will correct that personnel issue.

Poor and incompent teachers produce failing students, Brady has had nothing but weak and inexperienced offensive coordinators since his draft day. With proper guidance, leadership and mentoring, Brady will be a top QB in the NFL and is well suited to the West Coast offense;he has the physical tools and mental ability and discipline to excel in pro football. Derrick Anderson is facing an imminent release from the Browns as the signing bonus Savage inked promises a horrendously overpaid backup QB who threw 4 INT's against the 5-9 Bengals in 2007 and proved he can't win big games under pressure and let a weak Bengals team that season knock us out of the playoffs showing he is not a legitimate starting NFL QB.

All things considered, under extremely dire and difficult circumstances Brady showed tremendous poise and class in not criticizing Mangini for benching him. Brady also did a good job of moving our no-huddle offense last season, with very little downfield passes of 25+ yards, due to a combination of young inexperienced receivers who were learning to read NFL defensive coverages and the ultra-conservative play calling from Brian Daboll. In the final analysis, if Holmgren and Heckert can swing a trade for Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia, it may mean an insurance backup to Quinn or an outright end of Brady's future with Cleveland, if they deam Kolb as a starter and a bigger talent of the two. Holmgren has been adamant about choosing a starter and not feeling a QB derby as productive. Only time will tell, but I believe giving up on a 26 yr.old Brady Quinn would be short sighted.

On a bright note of news, Josh Cribbs signed a three year deal worth $18 million with $7 million guaranteed. Check out the Browns website for the details(http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=10516 ). What it means to the franchise is we now have signed one of the most exciting kick, punt return and special team coverage men in the league and an explosive weapon for the West Coast offense who can score everytime he touches the ball. Look for Holmgren's hand picked offensive coordinator, yet to be named, to use Cribbs athletic skills out of the backfield as a runner in certain formations and as a wildcat QB or possibly occasionally as a slot receiver for end arounds or reverses.
On the Cavaliers...
Great news on Zydrunas Ilgauskas, he and his agent are negotiating a deal with Danny Ferry to re-sign with the Cavaliers. "Z" will be eligible to return to the team on March 22nd, if all goes well. That will be timely, with the injury to Shaq, and give the Cleveland franchise an opportunity to show appreciation to "Z" for being a good soldier in the trade with Washington for Antown Jamison. With Zydrunas and Shaq back for the playoff stretch, it will give us the personnel to defend the big men of Boston, Orlando, Denver and the Lakers, which we will need.

LeBron James was given a "night off for some rest" which will give him some time to heal from his ankle tweak. At halftime in Milwaukee the Cavs battled back from a lethargic start to come within 1 point down. DeLonte West, Antown Jamison are carrying us on offense and Verajao is the spark on defense thus far.

With 6:58 to go, the Cavs trail by 12 and have given up 34 points in the paint tonight,showing a lack of inside discipline and determination on defense. It will take lock down defense from here on out to win this. Milwaukee prevails tonight 92-85. Cavs will have to regroup but still have the best record in the NBA.
Give me your take,
The Cleveland Professor

Cleveland Injuries/Trades Force Smaller, Faster Lineup

LATE BREAKING CAVS NEWS... Glenn(Big Cry Baby) Davis of Boston Celtics applied a cheapshot on Shaq's thumb during our beatdown of Boston at their homecourt.Ironically, Glenn Davis wasn't even called for a foul, yet Shaq had to leave the court for medical attention after the incident. He went into a Baltimore specialist Monday for surgery and will be out until the playoffs. This could work to our advantage as Shaq will be well rested for the important stretch run.
We should be resigning Zydrunas Ilgauskas by March 22nd if things go according to plan. In the meantime, JJ Hickson & Leon Powe are our starting centers and Verajao comes off the bench. The advantage is it gives the Cavs a fast break speed game without the bigs. Our smaller lineup clobbered the NY Knicks by 31 points Monday night without Shaq or Z. We will need them both to beat Dwight Howard of Orlando, Garnett and Perkins of Boston , Nene, Martin and Anderson of Denver and Lakers Bynum, Gasol and Odom. Until the playoffs, our smaller, speed burning, fast breaking lineup will continue to March Loudly To The NBA Championship with the best record in the league! Give Me Your Take, The Cleveland Professor

NBA Trade Deadline Brings Heavy Speculation About Future of "Z" & JJ Hickson; Give Up The Future or Grab The NBA Ring Now?

As the NBA deadline quickly approaches on February 18th, all Cavalier fans are holding their collective breath as they wait and wonder what Cleveland GM Danny Ferry will decide. Does he stand pat with the chemistry and present talent or finalize a deal giving up Zydrunas Ilgauskas and JJ Hickson for the Phoenix Suns Amar'e Stoudemire.

Here are the facts. Amar'e Stoudemire is 27 yrs. old;6'10" and 259 lbs.; 5 time NBA All Star including this past 2010 All Star starting Western Conference power forward;He is averaging 21+ PPG, 8+ RPG and averages those virtual identical numbers in PPG and RPG for his career. He would be an outstanding established offensive threat that would further strengthen the best team in the NBA. Those are the positives.

Some of the downsides. Amar'e had surgery on both knees in 2005-06 season. Microfracture surgery on the left knee and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. In 2008-09 season he had surgery to repair a detached retina. All injuries have healed and he appears to have fully recovered, but knee injuries and a detached retina are susceptible to vulnerability in the aggressive arena and highly physical nature of the NBA. In Phoenix, the media has criticized him for his lack of consistent defense and rebounding. But, remember that Phoenix doesn't have a reputation for lock down defense versus the Cavaliers leading the league in several defensive categories.

As to his character, he has a reputation for being a good guy, low key, family driven. He has some problems within his extended family getting in legal trouble but disciplined himself to be a respectable, solid citizen and role model. Also, he is actively involved in community charities and activities.

I would give Danny Ferry the green light and encourage him to be the "Riverboat Gambler" on this trade for Amar'e Stoudemire. There are too many upsides, not to mention the fact that one of my inside sources advises me that Stoudemire would be a blue chip player that would serve two purposes. First, be the knockout punch on offense to further ensure the NBA Championship and give us the ability to sign him to at least a two year deal and ensure us a legitimate All Star to add to our present talent.

So, if the worst case happened after the season, and we lost LeBron, we would not have to rebuild from scratch with Amar'e Stoudemire, Mo Williams, Shaq, Anthony Parker, Anderson Verajao, Delonte West, Jamario Moon, Boobie Gibson, Jawad Williams, Danny Green; et al. On the other hand, after we win the NBA Championship that may be the coup de gras to win the grand prize, inking LeBron James to a new contract in Cleveland and giving him the keys to establish himself as the greatest player in NBA history, positioning himself to win multiple championships. And at 25, he could concievably surpass both Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan's number of rings! Wow, what a bright future on the horizon for Cleveland Cavaliers fans if all this comes to pass! Give me your take.
Tom Eardley

The Cleveland Sports Professor

Cavaliers Marching Toward An NBA Championship! My Formula

Well fans, it appears that the Cleveland Cavaliers are marching loudly towards the 2010 NBA Crown! Even with Mo and Delonte sidelined & Leon Powe rehabbing, the Cavs are on a hot streak with 8 wins in a row. And the future looks bright as their schedule will favor a larger share of home games.

The Lakers just don't have any stars beside Bryant as a shooter, scorer and closer. Let him get his 30 and play solid Mike Brown defense and you can take them in seven. Boston is getting old and banged up. Pierce, Ray Allen, Garnett and Rasheed are all 30+. Soo, once again, stop their one star, Rondo, who can't shoot a j outside 20 feet, and play solid Mike Brown defense and you can take them in seven. Orlando, with the loss of Terkolu, Courtney Lee and "Skip To Ma Lou",in off season free agency and trades, doesn't have the same dynamic as last year. Soo, stop Howard with Shaq Diesel, and you play solid Mike Brown defense and you take them in seven.

There are other up and coming teams,i.e. Denver, Atlanta,Dallas and others; but no team in the NBA has the team chemistry, talent, coaching and fans like Cleveland. I realize its still early in the long sojourn of an NBA season but I see the Cleveland Cavaliers as the team to beat in the NBA. All the rest just don't match up with the likes of Lebron, Shaq, Mo, Delonte, Andy Verejao,Zydrunas, Boobie Gibson, Jamario Moon,Anthony Parker, JJ Hickson, Jawad Williams et al. This team is deep in talent and Mike Brown is an advocate of teaching and playing tenacious defense. Give me your take!
Tom Eardley
The Cleveland Sports Professor

A Brave New World, Enter If You Dare!

Welcome all long suffering Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers and Indians fans. Sorry, but World Soccer Teams, WWWrestling, WNBA and local beer softball leagues don't count!

Hopefully this will be a sight for all of us to speculate, prognosticate, debate and generally have fun about the Big Three Cleveland Sports: Our Browns, Cavaliers and The Tribe! Invite all your freinds and family to participate. The more the merrier.I am including this link to begin and will add other links in the future.


Initial topic: 1.The Browns and free agency leading up to the April draft.
2. The Cavaliers blockbuster trade and the consequences to the franchise.

Keep On Bloggin''
Cleveland Sports Madman