Saturday Special

We have some time on on hands right now during the holidays, which is nice, so we decided to give you a Saturday Special.

(Romeo in Miami)
The national media is keeping the rumor alive that Bill Parcells would like to have Romeo Crennel as his coach in Miami.

Here is how I would handle it as the Browns’ GM – if I may be so bold.

A #2 pick and a #3 pick in the upcoming draft should just about do it.

Then the Browns can take their #2 and the Dolphins’ #2 - which will be at the top of the round, and turn it into a mid #1. Let’s keep it simple here guys - that #1 pick should be turned into the best defensive player available. Period.

While we are at it, let’s see if the “Big Tuna” wouldn’t mind doing a “two-for.” Perhaps he wants a quarterback to go along with a coach. I know a big, strong armed signal-caller who just set a Cleveland franchise record for touchdown passes that should be available. A sign and trade would do nicely here as well.

Meanwhile, while the Browns are negotiating with Miami over compensation for Romeo, they should also be talking to Marty and/or Bill Cowher about becoming the team’s new head coach. We covered this ground last year. But if the opportunity knocks again, open the door.

If the Miami rumors are true, Savage and the Big Tuna should already be talking. And if Vince Young doesn’t pull a DA and meltdown in the biggest game of his career against the Colts, the Browns can have the deal done early next week.

That would be a fairly productive start to the off-season, don't you think?

Get draft picks for Crennel, turn those picks into serious talent on defense and sign a future Hall of Fame coach to run your club.

My motto when it comes to changing coaches is as follows - I do NOT make a change unless I clearly UPGRADE. With all due respect to RC, MS or BC would be a serious upgrade.

If only the rumors were true and Savage was as aggressive as yours truly.

(More Miami)
The dumbest sports comment of 2007 came late but it was special. On Thursday, December 27, at approximately 1:13 p.m. in the afternoon, an ESPN analyst actually mentioned Maurice Carthon’s name with a straight face when discussing possible head coaches in Miami. Classic.

Yea, we know Parcells and Carthon go way back. But what qualifies Carthon to run a team?

A little history lesson from his days in Cleveland.

This is the same guy who had K2 off the field on third down, the same guy who had Dennis Northcutt ahead of Joe J. on the Browns’ depth chart and the same guy who took his best back off the field on short yardage plays. Need I go further?

You would think so-called analysts would have some common sense and think before spewing the garbage someone else is feeding them.

(Miami Take III)
Damon Jones wants traded. Not only that, he wants to go back to Miami. This guy is delusional.

Here’s a simple question – who wants him?

He’s limited in talent, overpaid, can’t defend and has shot the ball poorly since coming to Cleveland.

It was also reported that last week that Jones and Ira Newble refused to go into a game during garbage time when summoned in by Cavs' Head Coach Mike Brown.

Fining them is not enough. The Cavaliers should see if they can get 12 Spalding basketballs (men’s basketballs of course) for them in trade value. If not, they should be released.

You cannot let the inmates run the asylum. These two guys simply can’t play but somehow cashed in on life’s lottery when the Cavaliers signed them to multi-year deals several years ago.

The single dumbest move in Cleveland sports history was when the previous regime signed Kevin Ollie and Ira Newble, two guys who would have a hard time starting at North Carolina right now, to multi-year deals.

Remember that brainstorm? I always wanted to know how the thinking process on that one worked.

Here goes:

Cavs' Paid Player Personnel Professional #1: "We need these two guys. They are good."

PPPP#2: "Yea, you are right. I have seen them play. They would make us better."

PPPP#3: "And they are available too."

PPPP#4: "Hey guys, I hate to differ with you but these two are role players at best. Practice players if you will. Why would we offer them large multi-year deals? They belong on the end of an NBA bench at #10 through #12 in the rotation. Neither guy would see any quality time on a good team come playoff time. There is a reason they are available. Why should we make such a heavy investment on guys with minimal talent level?"

Former Cavs' GM Jim Paxson: "It's three to one. I'm going with the majority. I'll call their agents in the morning. Good work guys. We got a lot done here today and the franchise is better for it. Meeting adjourned. Hey, you guys want to go to Wendy's for lunch then come over to my condo and watch a VHS tape of me running off screens and nailing jumpers during my playing days in Portland?"

PPPP #1, #2, @ #3 - "Sure, boss. Good idea. Love to."

PPP#4 - "No thanks. I think I'll go home and update my resume."

Nice........

And you wonder why the Cavaliers are over the cap with minimal talent.

I'm back on point again. Stay with me.

Now they (DJ & IN) aren’t happy about their playing time. Only in America folks could this happen.

If you can’t deal them immediately, cut them loose. Send a message that this silliness will not be tolerated. You don’t need a cancer, or two, on the bench. It’s bad enough 23 doesn’t have any talent around him. Now he has malcontents there as well.

Come on Danny (Ferry), do something. Let me know you are still alive. We sent out an Amber Alert in the summer, we asked if you were in the Witness Protection Program back in the fall and we are counting down the days before the trading deadline when we demand your dismissal.

Show me you have a pulse – get active.

It’s not like these two aren’t replaceable. It would be the classic example of addition by subtraction. I know, I know. They would count against the cap if you let them go.

Sometimes, you have to cut bait and run. Don’t compound one mistake with another – in this case, keeping them around to cause headaches for your coach, who has a hard enough time trying to find four guys who can give him consistent minutes.

Point made.

(NFL Network)
Hey, if two NFL teams are playing but hardly anyone is watching, does it count?

The NFL finally threw the public a bone (read: caved to public pressure) and decided to air the Patriots – Giants game on national television instead of on their silly NFL Network alone. Good call.

One more time - the NFL Network concept, as designed, was the biggest mistake the NFL has made in years. The pompous league assumed cable companies would automatically add it to their service. Wrong.

Fans that do not have the package are unhappy and the league knows it. Look for that concept to change dramatically next year, regardless what the league is saying, so the average fan gets the games.

Don’t sweat the details. That’s for the league and cable companies to sort out. But you WILL be able to see all the games next year. The NFL should and will correct this blunder.

Patriots Versus The World
ESPN is at it again. This time they are already comparing the 2007 Patriots to some of the NFL’s greatest teams and having Bill Parcells analyze who would win.

We saw this stunt before, just three years ago when the network did the same thing with the USC team that featured several future first rounders, including the next OJ – Reggie Bush. I had to get that one in for you DB - it was too easy.

By the way, quick quiz: Which former USC back just went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season? Wrong. It wasn't Gale Sayers (aka: Reggie Bush). I'll give you a hint - he plays with the Titans and we stated back when he had the body to be a better "true" NFL back (read: 20-25 carry guy) than Mr. Bush when everyone else had Reggie in Canton already.

Here's the bottom line however- neither guy is going into the Hall of Fame.

Hey, we get one right once in a while.

We did found out one interesting tidbit about that game against Texas recently. Bush was not on the field on fourth and short late in the game when USC went for the kill. I have no problem with Carroll going for it. It showed some real stones. A first down conversion on fourth and two wins the game. With that offense, a two yard pickup should have been a better than 50-50 proposition. But Bush should have been on the field.

As much as we didn't think he was the next coming of Jim Brown, we too recognized his (Bush) immense skill level and you ALWAYS have your best players on the field at key moments unless they are on a stretcher getting treatment.

Nice move Pete.

Back on point again. I'm bouncing all around today. That's okay. If you can follow me, it means you are intelligent and learning at the same time.

A funny thing happened on the way to crowning that USC team as one of the greatest teams ever – they lost to Texas in the National Championship game.

ESPN should have learned a lesson the first time around. I know, I know – the bit makes for good television. Still, I think it’s appropriate for the Pats to win the Super Bowl first before they are mentioned with some of football’s best teams ever.

(Bowl Season)
Hey, when is the Peach Bowl being played? Oh, I forgot, that bowl went out of business years ago. That’s okay, there are over 30 more bowls to choose from. Only a sick freak (you know who you are) could watch ALL this stuff and enjoy it.

(No Post Play)
I watched some NBA this week and noticed something that is all but extinct – centers that can consistently score in the low-block. There aren't many true centers that can consistently score with their backs to the basket. In fact, many of the game’s best post players are actually power forwards, not true centers (i.e. KG, Duncan, Howard, Bosh, etc…), who actually are as comfortable facing the basket as they are posting up.

Look at Cleveland’s Z, he’s 7-3 and at his best catching 23’s drive and dish, and taking that mid-range jumper.

The NBA has turned into a jump shooting league – and a bad one at that, along with a running league, for those coaches who have figured out their team doesn’t have the consistent post play to win playing half court basketball.

That works when jumpers are falling (i.e. Bulls of 2006-07), but a recipe for disaster when they aren’t (Bulls of 2007-08). Ask Scott Skiles, a terrific coach, who just got canned because his post-less Bulls got out of the gate poorly this fall.

Years ago, most teams had a real threat down low. Now, the opposite is the case. The game is dominated by perimeter players, and has been for the most part, since MJ was winning titles in Chicago. Even then, you still had Akeem in Houston and Ewing in New York, true centers, who demanded attention in the block. What center playing today is of that caliber?

Yao Ming? Maybe. And that's a reach.

(Long Haired Safety)
Don't ask me why, but I love long-haired safeties, especially if they are Samoan. I saw a few minutes of the Boston College bowl game last night. That's right - I said "a few minutes." I told you I can't sit through a whole bowl game.

The guy wearing #44 was running around all over the place, throwing his body around like he didn't care. He had long hair too. The downside is he didn't look Samoan. Too bad.

Regardless, any guy who plays with reckless abandon and has those those flowing locks to go with it can play on my team anyday. I don't care what his wonderlick score is, what he runs the 40 in and how many times he can bench 225.

Geez, we covered a lot of ground today and you are better for it.

Feel free to respond. I have decided to begin answering inquiries/questions/comments, etc...

I'll also be signing books and doing a monthly reading at Borders in Cuyahoga Falls every first Tuesday of each month between 7-8:30 p.m. Yea, right.

See you next time.