Mid-Week Hits & Misses

Romeo
It looks like Romeo Crennel is eager to go down with the ship.

Instead of naming Quinn the starter in week #4 as we predicted he would, he's decided to keep the status quo - albeit making it clear DA is on a short leash.

Bad Call RC. If the team fails to secure a victory on Sunday, this will make it easier for "Boy Wonder" Phil Savage to can him (RC) during the bye week if he decides to go in that direction. That way they start over with a new coach and new signal-caller all at once. Call it turning the page.

This way, he's (RC) called out his QB (DA) and put even more pressure on a player who now lacks confidence. You can do that with a right guard, but not with the guy who handles every snap.

In an interview this week, Savage stated "We all made mistakes heading into this season." You think?

We reiterate one of our core beliefs when it comes to sports - You don't can the coach/manager unless you have someone clearly better ready to step in.

Hopefully, Savage will show patience, especially since much of this mess can be placed on his doorstep. We covered this in our last entry.

As for this week's prediction, I have the Bengals winning by Vegas' number (3-4 points). Let's say 27-23. Cincinnati played the Giants tough and found some of its offensive mojo in that contest. Based on that, and the fact the game is in River City, we like the Bengals.

They key this week will be which QB makes the most plays and the fewest mistakes. I know - I am stating the obvious.

Besides, I look for CHUD and company to protect DA some this week. I expect the Browns to give Jamaal Lewis perhaps 25 touches or more versus Cincy. Making a commitment to the run should take some heat off Anderson and allow the Browns' offense to use play action more in the passing game - keeping some heat off Anderson.

On the other side of the ball, here's the rub - the Browns can't rush the QB without exposing their secondary. Therefore, Palmer should have a field day unless Wimbley and company suddenly surface. That's Kamerion Wimbley, as in their first round pick a couple years back. He's been MIA since Obama has been running for president - that's 18 months and counting.

Leaderless
We mentioned in our last entry about how the Browns lacked off-the-field leaders. If you listened to the players' comments this week, you would agree.

Many players commented on how tough the schedule was to open the season. Anderson, in particular, rationalized the poor start offensively to the quality of the defensive units the Browns faced out of the gate.

I will interpret - We can't score against good teams, only against bad ones. Didn't you see us play last year?

The more I see of DA, the more I think he's "soft." Unfortunately, I think he has a lot of company in that locker room. How else do you explain the Browns consistently getting muscled by many of their opponents?

Think about it - When was the last time a Browns' team physically beat up an opponent? When the Browns play, the opponent often looks like he's playing downhill, while the Browns often look as though they are on their heels.

In all fairness, last year the Browns' offensive line muscled some folks and we applauded their efforts - calling it the best offensive line play we have seen in Cleveland in the past 35 years.

That begs the question - They they dominate because they were good or because they were playing the league's easiest schedule?

We'll know the answer to that question at some point this season. So far it does not look good.

Indians
I hope Indian fans, and more importantly the team brass, isn't getting the wrong message from the fact this team played fairly well in the final two months of the season. I am not a big fan of using in-season auditions, after the pressure comes off, as a way of deciding your future course of action.

I know there were some good signs, but they still need a big bat, a closer and some set-up help.

The fact that Carmona pitched more like a #3 or #4 starter this year puts a great deal of pressure on Lee to be a true #1 - something he's not. To expect him in 2009to be anywhere near where he was this season is unreasonable to say the least. If Lee pitches in the future like he did prior to 2007, the Indians should be elated.

All this means is they do not have a true #1 heading into next year, even though Lee will be pinned with that label. This makes it all that much more important to add more talent in needed areas.

Hopefully, Shapiro can have a good off-season. The Indians need is badly.

CC
I am curious to see what CC could do in the post-season with the Brewers. If he fails again, as he did a year ago, he's still in line to get $20 million + a year from the Yankees, Red Sox, Giants, ....etc.

Is this a great country or what?

By the way, it was recently reported the Tribe offered CC in the range of $20 million per prior to the start of the 2008 season. If true and he turned it down, the Indians did him a huge favor on his way out of town. By not going public with the offer, the Indians kept the heat off CC, who woud surely had been booed at home if the paying public knew he turned down that kind of money. Of course, this is all based on the offer amount being accurate.

CC has said all along he just "wants to play where he and his family are comfortable and it's not about the money." Right.

Give me Albert (Joey) Belle anyday. Honest greed I can handle. Dishonest greed insults my intelligence.

Cavaliers
It was reported yesterday the Cavaliers have the second highest payroll in the NBA. What? Talent-wise, they aren't even close to one of the top teams in the league. Danny Ferry and company have overpaid all along the way and have gotten what in return?

When 23 dominates, the Cavaliers have a chance against anyone. When 23 doesn't dominate, they lose. Period.

Defensive coordinators in football have a term titled "11 as 1." The Cavaliers have a similar label - it's called "1 (James) and 11 little Indians."

The irony is the one guy (LJ) they need to pay and plan on paying may still walk after the 2009-10 season. That's okay Cavs' fans, rest easy, Sasha is locked up for a while. Amazing.

Yes, I like their latest move in acquiring M. Williams. He's certaintly an upgrade in the backcourt. However, I want to see him on a regular basis to make a full judgment of what they have in Williams.

Their first round pick (Hickson) better be able to give them some valuable minutes right away. Otherwise, they will severely miss Joe Smith coming off the bench.

USC
I say numerous pundits claiming SC was already in the National Championship game after beating Ohio State. I had heard this before of course. Now what?

I saw some of the SC game last night, and they were simply outplayed. I wonder how some of those "experts" feel today? This is the same crew that stated the Boise States' of this world had no business playing for a National Championship two years ago.

It's okay to go out on a limb. It shws guts. I do it all the time (GOR), but it would be nice if these folks had a decent batting average occasionally.


Politics
Here' my view on the reported $700 million bailout of Wall Street and those individuas who bought houses they couldn't afford. I don't like it.

I have never missed a payment, never bought anything I couldn't pay off and I do not have credit card debt. Yes, I would like to own a nicer car. Yes, I would like to go on vacation more often. Yes, I would like to do and buy a lot of things that are available to me if I decided to put it on plastic and worry about paying for it later. But I don't go there. I was taught differently. It's called living within yor means.

What is happening with the economy right now was certainly predictable. We went from a nation that saved as much a 10% of our income 30-40 years ago to a nation where the average family of four has approximately $6,0000-$8,000 of credit card debt at any given time.

What did you expect would eventually happen?

Now the same people who helped create this mess (Congress) want the taypayers to fork over to them nearly a trillion dollars to avoid a recession or worse from happening.

This is lunacy.

A deal will likely be struck. Okay. I don't like it, but there's not much I can do about it. But it better include some basic changes in how we do business in this country.

If I were in charge, the first thing I would do is allow one credit card per family and the limit on it would be based on your family's yearly income. I know, I know. This will never happen. I don't care.

You don't have to be an MIT graduate to understand the basic concept of people living WITHIN their means. If you have $100, you can't consistently spend $110without it catching up to you.

That includes everyone from the individual to Wall Street to everyone in-between.

There, I feel better now.